Water leaks delay Two Medicine campground opening

Glacier National Park’s Two Medicine Campground will not be opening on schedule as crews are working to repair multiple water leaks there.

The park said in a press release that the campground may be open as early as this weekend, or the repairs could take a few weeks, depending on the severity of the leaks.

Each spring, park staff reconnects the water system to test its water delivery after cold winter conditions. While leaks are common, the park says there usually not as many as have been seen this spring and they usually do not require such extensive repair.

This has not been the only leak the park has faced this spring. In April and May, crews spent several weeks finding and repairing leaks to aging pipes in the Many Glacier area.

In addition, a significant crack in the main along the west side of the Going to the Sun Road was discovered and repaired in May.

While aging infrastructure is a main cause of the leaking issues, a shortage of utility operators on the east side of the park is leading to longer repair times.

The staffing shortage also contributes to extended delays in identifying water system problems and completing repairs. The park is battling the problem by continuing to actively recruit to fill the open positions, including offering signing bonuses for qualified applicants.