Few floods in Mineral County

In counties all over Montana, the flooding rivers have caused residents to roll up their pant legs, canoe to work, or even evacuate their homes. Mineral County has, so far, avoided those frustrations this flood season. Although the river shores in Mineral County are drier than other counties in the state, a few problem areas have sprung up last week.

Along mile marker 14 on Fish Creek Road, Fish Creek broke over the shore and washed out a portion of the road.

Mineral County Disaster and Emergency Services Coordinator George Gupton said the local forest service deemed the road impassable and the section has been blocked off to traffic. Under a road sign for Fish Creek Road stands an orange caution sign that reads, “Road Closed 10 Miles Ahead Due To Flooding”.

The dirt and gravel Fish Creek Road usually sees outdoor enthusiasts on four-wheelers and ATVs that recreate during the summer. With the roadblock at mile marker 14, passersby will have to find alternate roadways.

Superior Ranger District ranger Sharon Sweeney said she is not surprised that section of Fish Creek finally flooded. Fish Creek is not in her Superior Ranger District, but Sweeney is familiar with the area west of Alberton.

“The creek has been eating that section of road for years,” Sweeney said of Fish Creek in the Nine Mile Ranger District. “It’s a problem spot because the creek comes right at it.”

At mile marker 14 on Fish Creek Road, Fish Creek flows towards the road and then bends along it. Sweeney said it was just a matter of time until the road gave out.

In Superior, the Big Eddy fishing access site along the Clark Fork River has also been blocked. Yellow caution tape and a sign that reads, “Dangerous Flood Conditions No Entry Allowed,” has been set up in the parking section of Big Eddy. The warnings are to keep people away from swelling ground water and the rising riverbank.

“There’s nothing you can do,” Sweeney said of the rising water in Big Eddy. “Just have to keep people off so they don’t get washed away.”

Over the past week, the Clark Fork River rose from roughly 50,000 cubic feet per second to 55,000 cfs. The record flow for the Clark Fork River is 69,000 cfs in 1997. The recent high mark of 55,000 cfs was recorded in the St. Regis section of the river.

St. Regis Fire Chief Jerry Dockter said last week that a handful of residents in St. Regis have been worried about their riverfront properties.

St. Regis residents Joe Cantrell and Brooks Sanford are neighbors who live along the Clark Fork River in St. Regis. To protect their properties from the high running water, they requested sandbags from the St. Regis Fire Department.

Cantrell, who runs Joe Cantrell Outfitting, said he hopes the water level goes down soon. In the meantime, he will have to rely on the sandbags around his property.

Dockter said his St. Regis Fire Department and the West End Fire Department supply sandbags to those in need. The county government also has sandbags for residents.

Besides the few encounters with flooding in Mineral County this flood season, the area has mostly avoided the impact of high water the other counties are struggling with. Most residents in Mineral County live off the water and away from the threat of floods. Mineral County DES Gupton said for those who do live close to the water, they have built their homes with flooding protection in mind.

“The few built there have been built to code,” Gupton said. “They are built so water can flow under the homes. There are ways to kind of make it flood proof.”

As the weather continues to get warmer in Mineral County and the rivers and creeks continue to rise this summer, Gupton said the local emergency services are prepared to handle any flooding problems that may arise.

“All the Fire Departments are keeping an eye on it,” Gupton said. “The State is keeping up on the state highways.”

“I don’t see any threats in the immediate future,” Gupton added. Text