logoNorth Fork Landowners’ Association

NFLA Committees

Periodically committees made up of volunteer NFLA members are formed to focus attention on an area of particular interest. This page provides a brief description of the purpose of each currently active committee, information about recent activities, and contact information in case you want to join in.

     The materials and links on this Web page do not necessarily reflect the views of the North Fork Landowners’ Association, its officers, directors or membership. They have been posted with minimal comment to help inform the community about issues relating to the North Fork.

Trails Committee

The NFLA Trail Committee reports on condition of various trails and recruits help for trail clearing. Members include John Frederick and Frank Vitali as co-chairs.

TrailCreek
Photo by Patti Hart
Indian trail on Trail Creek

Fire Mitigation Committee

The Fire Mitigation Committee has been working effectively since 2003 to inform landowners about steps they can take to protect their property and persons from wildfire. The committee is chaired by Molly Shepherd and co-chaired by Jerry Wernick.
     For more information, see the Fire Mitigation Committee page.

TrailCreek
National Park Service photo
The 2001 Moose Fire threatens the Glacier Institute compound at Big Creek

Weeds Committee

      In a few short months the Weed Wranglers, Weed Committee members and our North Fork neighbors will begin our second season of activities.   We will be “pulling together” to learn more about weed identification, how to deal with your weeds safely and effectively, and initiate a “model project” river corridor weed pull.  We have three activity days scheduled. 
      On the morning of July 15 we’ll kick off the Second Annual Robin Cox Memorial Weed Roundup when we meet at Sondreson Meadow at 10 a.m. to pull exotic weeds.  After our morning’s work, we’ll again be able to enjoy a “cookout” lunch at Sondreson Hall provided by a donation from the North Fork Preservation Association (NFPA).  After lunch, Tris Hoffman, U.S. Forest Service Weed Specialist, and Dawn LaFleur, Glacier National Park Supervisory Biologist, will help you identify your weeds during a “show and tell” session.   Participants found this very helpful last year.  Please let your friends and neighbors know that they should bring weeds they’d like to have identified in a securely closed, thick plastic bag.  Following the weed ID session, there will be a presentation and slide show by Steve Wirt, a well-known wildlife and nature photographer.  Through the efforts of Annamarie Harrod, we have secured this excellent presenter.  Steve is also an instructor with the Glacier Institute and has worked extensively on plant classification systems.  Following Steve’s presentation, we hope to have a representative from Flathead County Weed Department on hand to let us know what the county can offer us. 

Weeds
Photo by Valerie Cox
Carol and Tris Hoffman identifying weeds

We might want to consider using their list of licensed weed chemical applicator services and try to get together an informal group of folks who would like to reduce the cost of travel involved in hiring a licensed weed service by scheduling our weed treatments on the same day or days.  This cost saving suggestion was passed along to me by our USFS compadre, Tris Hoffman.   The afternoon will be capped off again this year with a prize drawing!
     Also this summer we will host two River Corridor Weed Roundup float trips.  On two separate days, we’ll pull weeds along two different sections of the North Fork of the Flathead River, within the high watermark, of course.  The first trip takes place on July 26 from the Border to Ford.  A Forest Service vehicle and driver will be available to assist us with the lengthy shuttle from the border.  The second River Corridor Weed Roundup takes place on August 19 from the Ford put-in to the Polebridge take-out site.  A no-host dinner at the Northern Lights Saloon following the August 19 trip is an option for those wishing to stay. 
     If you don’t have a river craft but wish to be a volunteer on either or both River Roundup Days, please email valeriekcox@yahoo.com.   We also have an informal pledge from Sally Thomson to provide a raft on each day from her raft company.  Likewise, if you can offer someone space in a boat, please let me know and we’ll try to match up folks and spaces.

Here are some links to Web sites that will help you control noxious weeds on your property:

History Committee

Members of the NFLA are committed to preserving the history of this area.
      The History committee is pursuing an oral history project, which will seek to capture the recollections of as many first and second generation homesteaders and early residents as we can locate and record. The committee is also compiling cartographic data that locates and records the original homesteads in the North Fork of the Flathead River valley. Another initiative involves inventorying and archiving books, memoirs, diaries and other documents concerning the history of the North Fork area. The committee will also be pursuing fund raising activities over the next year.
      This committee is chaired by Debo Powers and co-chaired by Morgan Hart.
      New! For more information, please email NFhistoryproject@gmail.com.

HistoryCommittee
Photo by Patti Hart
Ralph and Esther Day's homestead cabin - our disappearing history

Social Committee

We take our fun very seriously on the North Fork.
      The NFLA Social committee works with the community and the NFLA Board of Directors to develop and coordinate the NFLA social calendar.
      The committee is chaired by Gerry Sterns who is supported by Donna Harrison and Carol Groebe. Anyone who has suggestions about social events should be in touch with these volunteers.
      You can see the product of their labors with the NFLA Calendar.

Road
Photo by Val Cox
Everyone enjoys the dance

North Fork Road Committee

We’ve assembled this section to inform landowners about the history of the North Fork Road, provide access to research studies and news stories about the road, and document actions being taken by the North Fork Landowners’ Association to effect better maintenance of the road.
      Members of the Road Committee include Margaret Heaphy, Chairman, Ed Heger, Steve Berg, Steve Weber and Betsy Holycross.
      The NFLA road committee has been suspended until further notice pending release of the Parsons Brinkerhoff report and re-evaluation of committee purpose.

Road
Photo by Betsy Holycross
Working on the road

A message from the Road Committee

In the fall of 2008 then NFLA president, Molly Shepherd appointed a NFLA committee to look at various issues concerning the North Fork Road. The committee was chaired by Betsy Holycross and included Margaret Heaphy, Steve Weber, Steve Berg and Ed Heger. In August of 2009 after Betsy had been elected president of the NFLA, Margaret Heaphy took over as chairman.
     During the course of the past year, the committee has met with and worked with numerous federal, state and local officials regarding the road, to include: Glacier National Park, Flathead National Forest, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Montana Department of Transportation, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, County Commissioner, Public Works Director and County Road Department. Summaries of all these meetings can be found on this NFLA website. The road committee reported its findings to the NFLA and the North Fork Road Coalition for Health and Safety.
      The committee has striven to educate the community on the history of earlier efforts to pave the road and the environmental issues that arose during that process in the early ‘80’s. It also has helped to educate the community as well as local officials about the possibility of doing a feasibility study on the road. Additionally, Margaret has done extraordinary research on dust abatement and control measures and reported those to the community. She has worked with and liaised with the county and state regarding these issues.
      Now, over a year later, at the NFLA president’s request, the BOD unanimously agreed to suspend road committee activities and the duties and responsibilities of its members. The email address will be disabled. The summer may be a busy one for road issues but the focus does not belong on the NFLA road committee. Rather, because a State and Flathead County sponsored feasibility study is underway which is looking at the road and road issues, folks should focus on that process and get involved in it! Members who want to stay abreast of what’s going on and/or comment on the process and issues should visit the study website at http://www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/northfork/. We will make sure that any updates we receive will be posted on NFLA Road Committee home page, however, the most up-to-date information will be available at the State of MT feasibility study website linked above and members are urged to visit it to stay informed

Road Committee 2008-2009 Final Report

Posted Nov. 5, 2009—The NFLA Road Committee has been working hard throughout 2009 meeting their charge to:

  1. Explore dust abatement and maintenance options and potentially recommend solutions,
  2. Make relevant information available to the NF community, and
  3. Receive and process member suggestions and concerns about the road.

     All of the Road Committee's activities have been summarized in a single document entitled "Final Report 2008-2009." A complete copy of this report maybe be downloaded from here.
     This final report provides an overview of meetings that have taken place throughout 2008-2009. Following are a list of these meetings with links to their summaries:

  • Dec. 12, 2008—First meeting of the NFLA Road Committee
  • Jan. 16, 2009—Phone conversation between members of the NFLA Road Committee and Dave Sanches, Alaska Department of Transportation
  • Jan. 16, 2009—Phone conversation between members of the NFLA Road Committee and Frank Elswick, Midwest Industrial Supply Inc.
  • Jan. 21, 2009—Meeting of the NFLA Road Committee with Flathead County Road & Bridge Department (Road Department) personnel
  • Feb. 20, 2009—Meeting of the NFLA Road Committee
  • Mar. 10, 2009—Meeting of the NFLA Road Committee with invited guest Larry Wilson
  • Apr. 6, 2009— Meeting of the NFLA Road Committee with Chas Cartwright, Superintendent of Glacier National Park
  • Apr. 21, 2009— Meeting of the NFLA Road Committee with Ben Conard and Scott Jackson from U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Apr. 23, 2009— Meeting of the NFLA Road Committee with Jim DeHerrera from the U.S. Forest Service and Earl Applekamp from Flathead National Forest
  • May 11, 2009— Meeting of the NFLA Road Committee with Flathead County Public Works Director Dave Prunty and Operations Manager Guy Foy
  • May 27, 2009— Meeting of the NFLA Road Committee with County Commissioner Jim Dupont

Archived Road Committee articles

Following are a series of road committee articles that have been archived but are still available for viewing.