Community Briefs

Opening for Placid and Salmon Lake State Parks Delayed Due to Flooding

SEELEY LAKE - Montana State Parks delayed the opening of Placid Lake State Park and Salmon Lake State Park due to spring flooding at both sites. To address public safety concerns and resource damage control, both parks will remain closed until further notice.

The parks were expected to open May 1 but high water levels in both lakes have resulted in flooding to park areas and roads. Extended flooding is expected due to weather conditions and excessive amounts of winter snowfall. Park staff will continue to monitor the situation and the parks will open for the season once public safety concerns have been alleviated.

For current park conditions and updates visit stateparks.mt.gov. Montana State Parks apologizes for any inconvenience and would like to thank visitors for their patience.

Big Larch Campground and Day Use Closed Until Further Notice

SEELEY LAKE - Big Larch Campground and Day Use Area will be closed until hazard trees are mitigated and safety threats removed. The boat launch remains open.

The campground typically opens Memorial Day weekend. While this is the goal, Seeley Lake District Ranger Rachel Feigley is unsure how long it will take to remove all the hazard trees and fix any damage to the facilities.

For more information or to check if the campground has been opened call the district, 677-2233.

Wildlife Stories to be Featured, May 4

Swan Valley - Stories of wildlife encounters from the past and recent times will be featured at the Upper Swan Valley Historical Society’s First Friday Wildlife Encounters event May 4, 6 p.m. at the Swan Valley Community Hall, Highway 83, mile marker 42.

Lions may land at our feet, wolverines can fly through trees and bears might lay for us in the bushes, according to stories told in the Upper Swan Valley Historical Society’s oral history collection. At this storytelling event, excerpts of oral histories will be mixed with stories of wildlife encounters told live by the people who experienced them.

The Wildlife Encounters storytelling event is free; everyone is welcome. Participants are encouraged to share their recollections. Tea, coffee and cookies will be served.

The event is funded by memberships and donations and by Blackfoot. A Montana Cultural Trust Grant also supports the USVHS.

For more information, call 406-754-2745 or 754-2538, or email lamar@blackoot.net or anned@blackfoot.net or visit http://www.SwanValleyHistoricalSociety.org.

Free Developmental and Preschool Screening, May 9

SEELEY LAKE - A clinic for children ages zero to five for Seeley Lake and Swan Valley School Districts will be held on Wednesday, May 9 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Seeley Lake Elementary School. Please call 677-2265 to schedule an appointment for your child’s screening or to receive more information.

This free screening will include gross motor, fine motor, language concepts, communication concepts, communication skills, hearing and vision screening.

Forest Insect and Disease Workshop on Wednesday, May 16

Swan Valley - Swan Valley Connections will offer a free Forest Insect and Disease Workshop Wednesday, May 16 at the Condon Work Center (6887 MT Hwy 83).

The workshop will cover identification and management of forest insects and diseases and will include an indoor presentation by Amy Gannon, DNRC Forest Pest Management Program Manager, from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. An outdoor field tour, hosted by Allen Branine, DNRC Service Forester, will be from 1-3 p.m. The course will focus on mountain pine beetle, Douglas-fir beetle, Flathead wood borer, spruce budworm, root diseases, needle casts, blights and more.

Space is limited. RSVP to attend. For more information and to register contact 754-3137 or info@svconnections.org.

Join the Diabetes Prevention Program

SEELEY LAKE – Medicaid recipients are eligible for a no cost diabetes program held at the Seeley-Swan Medical Center starting May 30. Classes are held once a week from 12-1 p.m. for eight weeks, twice a month for four months and once a month for six months.

The program offers a lifestyle coach who is a registered dietitian to develop healthy habits; teaches how to lose weight and how to keep it off; encourages enjoying food and exercise in a healthy way to lower the risk of heart disease and diabetes and offers support in a group setting.

If interested, contact Nancy Liner, RD at 258-4935 or email nliner@missoulacounty.us.

Montana Natural Resources Camp Opportunity

There are still openings to the Montana Natural Resources Youth Camp to be held July 15-20 at the Lubrecht Forest.  Youth age 14-18 or who have completed eighth grade may attend.  Full scholarships are available for students of Seeley and Swan schools through generous grant funding from the Seeley Lake Community Foundation.

The camp offers classes in management of wildlife, forestry, soil, rangeland, geology and water.  Recreational activities are also featured, including rafting, camping, gold panning and group campfires.

For more information visit the camp website:  http://mnryc.org.

 

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