Governor Greg Gianforte has announced that fuels reduction and forest stand improvement work is underway on Flathead National Forest Lands to address Montana’s forest health crisis. It’s happening through a Good Neighbor Authority partnership with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. The project will work to reduce hea...
DNRC Saves Millions In Fire Funds For 2022
Through cost-sharing negotiations between the state and federal governments, a 16% reduction in fire costs for Fiscal Year 2022 has been achieved from the Fire Suppression Fund. DNRC secured $9.2 million in savings with the state spending $47.5 million from the fund for fiscal year 2022. This year Montana has seen more than 2,500 fires burn ov...
Wildfire Blows Over To Flathead Lake
Evacuations have been ordered along Finley Point after heavy winds pushed a wildfire to the shore of Flathead Lake. The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation reported the Boulder 2700 was human-caused and has burned about 1,100 acres as of Sunday. Thanks to the evacuation, no one has been injured, but 15 homes and five outbu...
First Grants For ARPA Water & Sewer Grants Announced
Governor Greg Gianforte announced additional details Wednesday on the first round of American Rescue Plan Act water and sewer grants after receiving over 300 applications. Officials with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation are reviewing applications for eligibility and will rank them before they move to the infrastruct...
Drought May Affect Emergency Use Of Montana Water Sources
With a statewide emergency declared in Montana due to this year’s significant drought the question becomes whether additional water will be released from other bodies across the state. Montana’s Department of Natural Resources Water Planning Sections Supervisor Michael Downey says it isn’t quite so simple, however. https://northernbroadcasting...
Firefighting Aircrafts Downed After Recent Crash
In the wake of this week’s helicopter crash with five people aboard fighting the Deep Creek Fire between Townsend and White Sulphur Springs the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation has instituted a safety stand down of all of its aircraft for 48 hours out of an abundance of caution. DNRC has 10 aircraft in its fleet that co...
Department of Natural Resources Looking To Expand Forestry Program
The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation wants to more than double the number of acres it touches under its forestry program this year. The goal calls for treatment which is a forestry term referring to logging thinning and prescribed burning on 25,000 acres this year compared to the 11,000 acres completed last year. About ...