2023 Earth Day River Cleanup
Sheena Pate Sheena Pate

2023 Earth Day River Cleanup

Flathead Rivers Alliance for the first time teamed up with Wild Montana’s Flathead-Kootenai Chapter Saturday, April 22nd, to celebrate 2023 Earth Day. Fourteen eager volunteers gave their time cleaning up several fishing access sites along the Flathead River ahead of the float season including; House of Mystery, Blankenship, Glacier Rim, West Glacier.

Read More
Columbia Falls High School Senior Mentee Blog Post
Sheena Pate Sheena Pate

Columbia Falls High School Senior Mentee Blog Post

Where river water levels were receding and all of the garbage and debris along the river banks came into full and horrifying view. I knew I wanted to further my knowledge and dedicate my senior project to our local Flathead River Management. So, I reached out to Flathead River Alliance and spoke with Sheena.

Read More
Flathead Rivers Alliances Announces Executive Director
Sheena Pate Sheena Pate

Flathead Rivers Alliances Announces Executive Director

Sheena Pate joins Flathead Rivers Alliance as organizations first Executive Director. In 2022, she led FRA efforts that resulted in 111 stream miles improved, 240+ volunteers, 800+ volunteer hours, 4 programs, 7 projects, 5 events, and a co-hosted Big Sky Watershed Corps Member with Flathead National Forest and Glacier National Park.

Read More
Big Sky Journal Round Up: Non Profit Spotlight: Flathead Rivers Alliance
Sheena Pate Sheena Pate

Big Sky Journal Round Up: Non Profit Spotlight: Flathead Rivers Alliance

In 2019, diverse stakeholders including agencies, guides, outfitters, landowners, businesses, and community members gathered to form the Flathead Rivers Alliance, a nonprofit organization that has since led collaborative efforts to safeguard the future of Montana’s Flathead Wild and Scenic River system. The organization’s mission is deceptively simple: Support and enhance the outstandingly remarkable values of the three forks of the Flathead, which are defined by the National Park Service as recreation, scenery, wildlife, botany, geology, fisheries, water quality, ethnography, and history. And that’s where the simplicity ends.

Read More
Message from the President + 2022 Accomplishments
Sheena Pate Sheena Pate

Message from the President + 2022 Accomplishments

Formed in 2019, Flathead Rivers Alliance has established itself in a short time as the standard bearer for conservation and stewardship of the three forks of the Flathead River. We understand the magnitude and privilege it is to boost stewardship, education and community surrounding the river system that inspired the passage of the National Wild & Scenic Rivers Act of 1968. Our ability to bring a diverse group of individuals, agencies, local businesses and conservation organizations has resulted in several significant accomplishments.

Read More
Removing Barriers for River ADA Accessibility
Sheena Pate Sheena Pate

Removing Barriers for River ADA Accessibility

This project assesses barriers and prioritizes opportunities to improve ADA Accessibility of river access sites for individuals with disabilities, on the Middle and North Forks of the Flathead Wild and Scenic River. Access sites currently meet limited to no ADA Accessibility standards. We are working collaboratively with DREAM Adaptive, Flathead National Forest, Glacier National Park, Jackola Engineering, and advocates and individuals with disabilities and organizations (nonprofits and outfitters) facilitating experiences for this project.

Read More
2022 Flathead Waters Cleanup
Sheena Pate Sheena Pate

2022 Flathead Waters Cleanup

The 2022 Flathead Waters Cleanup event returned Saturday, August 13th, 2022. This event brought together over 210 agency, organization and community member representatives in an all day volunteer event to not only cleanup trash, but celebrate the region’s incredible waterways. Participants removed over 5,100 LBS of trash improving 140 miles of riverbank and lakeshore.

Read More
Building Capacity Around Water Quality Monitoring
Sheena Pate Sheena Pate

Building Capacity Around Water Quality Monitoring

The health of the three forks of the Flathead River can’t be dependent on one organization. It takes recognizing all stakeholders and involving them in the process. Flathead Rivers Alliance hosted a July 28th partner float with a focus on water quality and will host additional meetings and workshops to ensure there is proper analysis of whose on the landscape, whose doing what, what data are we missing, and capture priorities for short and long term monitoring and success in ensuring the health of the watershed.

Read More
2022 River Weed Rodeo
Sheena Pate Sheena Pate

2022 River Weed Rodeo

Brenda Guzman has been the mastermind behind the River Weed Rodeo on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River since 2003 and she remains the dedicated event organizer going forward. The Weed Rodeo is a noxious weed pulling event that includes private volunteers combined with commercial rafting outfitters, government organizations, non-profits and local businesses to hand pull weeds along our beautiful river corridor.

Read More
2022 Jean and Bill Howard Memorial Award
Sheena Pate Sheena Pate

2022 Jean and Bill Howard Memorial Award

Flathead Rivers Alliance Board President, attended Whitefish Community Foundation 's June 7th Award Ceremony and accepted on Flathead Rivers Alliance’s behalf the 2022 Jean and Bill Howard Memorial Award along with $5,000.

Read More
A Wild and Scenic Conundrum
Sheena Pate Sheena Pate

A Wild and Scenic Conundrum

Management of the Three Forks of the Flathead Wild and Scenic River isn’t simple, it’s complex. But understanding its value and learning what tools are available to prevent degradation does not have to be complex. Our goal is to promote a better understanding of those values and create new generations of river stewards so that more restrictive tools like a permitting system won’t be necessary.

Read More
Loaner Life Jacket Stations Make Debut on Flathead River System
Sheena Pate Sheena Pate

Loaner Life Jacket Stations Make Debut on Flathead River System

On May 27, 2022, Flathead Rivers Alliance and Backcountry Hunters & Anglers- Armed Forces Initiative volunteers teamed up to install two permanent loaner life jacket stations. Loaner life jacket stations have been traditionally provided by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (MT FWP) at lake access points, but not river accesses. This installation project for river access sites is said to be the first of its kind in Montana.

Read More
FRA Launches Wild & Scenic River Webinar Series Ahead of Comprehensive River Management Plan
Sheena Pate Sheena Pate

FRA Launches Wild & Scenic River Webinar Series Ahead of Comprehensive River Management Plan

Two-part live webinar speaker series announced ahead of anticipated spring public comment period for the Three Forks of the Flathead Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive River Management Plan. Learn about the ins and outs of Wild and Scenic Rivers and river management plans from regional and local managers and advocates and how to be an active participant during the public CRMP process.

Read More
Join us on the Flathead River this summer!
Sheena Pate Sheena Pate

Join us on the Flathead River this summer!

Flathead Rivers Alliance (FRA) is ramping up for the 2022 river season and recruiting 20-30 volunteer team members! Are you passionate about the river system that inspired a national protected Wild and Scenic River system? We’re expanding our River Ambassador program and officially launching a River Recreation Monitoring Survey program – join us to make a difference and give back to the river you love!

Read More