North Fork Road lake filled in
The river continues to run high and muddy, but so far no real damage from flooding. In my view, every day that passes makes a major flood less likely. I would not say a flood is impossible, but I sure think the chances are a lot less likely than they were two weeks ago
The road is also better. Flathead County crews worked last week to at least mitigate the problems. Wurtz Hill was smoothed out somewhat, and the lowest slumps were evened out so that all of the ledges are gone and the hill is passable for passenger cars, but it's still rough and drivers need to go slowly.
Names do make a difference. The big pond blocking the road has been known by several names in the last few years. It has been called Sullivan's Hole, Sue Lake (after Sue Sullivan) and this spring I started calling it Karen Lake. I did this because Karen McDonough had become the only resident north of the Lake who was calling the county on an almost daily basis. When Karen suggested the lake be named after a county employee, things changed in a hurry. County dump trucks have now filled in the lake. It is now a gravel bar, a little soft but, still a driveable gravel bar.
North of that ex-lake, the county also bridged the mud holes with pit-run rock. These soft spots are now passable in a four-wheel-drive, but you could still get stuck. I think the county did what could be done, but it will still take a period of dry weather to really firm up the road.
Over time, the only real fix is to completely rebuild the road from the junction with Trail Creek Road to the international border. If Canada expands Waterton Park to the North Fork, we will need a better road to access the new tourist attraction.
Two separate activities filled Sondreson Hall on Saturday. First was the firewise workshop from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Presentations included information on how to identify problems of disease or insects in your timber. This was followed by a discussion of what landowners are seeing on their property. Also discussed was Forest Service activity on the North Fork. Currently, there are no major insect or disease outbreaks on the North Fork that could affect fire behavior.
Nearly half of the North Fork has been burnt over in the past two decades. That area will need fuels mitigation and thinning in the next 20 years, and a major disease or insect outbreak is not likely.
Lodgepole pine, the most common species after fire, matures in 60-80 years. Insect epidemics are most likely in stands 80-120 years old. Good management can reduce or eliminate those future outbreaks. It is a great opportunity, but I have little faith that the Forest Service is up to the task. What do you think?
Second event was the first game night at the hall. This was a new event last year that has become one of the more popular social events. Card games, board games and conversation for everyone with good food thrown in - it doesn't get much better than that, especially after a cold rainy week.