Flathead Cleanup Efforts Boosted by Whitefish Community Foundation Grant!
Flathead Rivers Alliance will leverage Whitefish Community Foundation Community Grant to purchase Flathead Basin Reusable Water Cleanup Bag Stations with Leave No Trace Messaging in partnership with the Montana Waters Clearly Connected campaign.
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.
FRA Looks to Boost Stewardship, Safety & Citizen Science on the Flathead Wild & Scenic River
Flathead Rivers Alliance (FRA) announces 2023 River Ambassador and River Recreation/Citizen Scientist volunteer program trainings ahead of float season to enhance river safety, stewardship and citizen science, on the Three Forks of the Flathead River.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Flathead Rivers Alliance paddle float through the Night of Lights Parade
Flathead Rivers Alliance and Flathead Conservation District made inaugural float appearance during Columbia Falls annual Night of Lights Parade.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Flathead River Community Days Announced & Public Input Sought on Three Forks of the Flathead Wild & Scenic River
Flathead Rivers Alliance (FRA) announces community day events, Predict the Peak contest, and invites public input on future of the Three Forks of the Flathead Wild and Scenic River.
Boosting River Safety and Stewardship on the Three Forks of the Flathead Wild and Scenic River
Flathead Rivers Alliance secures Flathead Electric Cooperative’s Roundup for Safety Grant and is recruiting River Ambassadors to enhance river safety and stewardship, on the Three Forks of the Flathead River, for the 2022 float season.
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.
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!
Funding Secured to Boost Stewardship of Three Forks of the Flathead Wild and Scenic River
Flathead Rivers Alliance has secured $103,000 in partnership agreements and grants, launching the 2021 River Ambassador Program and setting the stage for 2022.