As of noon, Feb. 12, 2017, the Flower Creek Task Force made up of responders, elected officials, city/county employees, law enforcement officers, contractors among other officals met to discuss options for ice jam mitigation measures, according to a press release issued Monday by the Lincoln County Emergency Management

According to the press release, the Task Force mobilized to the bridges along Flower Creek to prepare for the ice extraction plan, as well as staging for public health and safety response measures.

Starting Monday, Feb. 13, 2017 at 8 a.m., the Task Force components met to draft a plan to be proactive in ice extraction in Flower Creek to avoid the possibility of ice jams.

According to Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency DeputyLisa Oedewaldt on Sunday, the ice has not caused any issues yet, but they are mobilizing equipment in case the weather causes ice jams.

Oedewaldt said that, so far, the weather has been in their favor.

In the evening, starting Feb. 13, 2017, measures will be made to release a minimal amount of warmer water from the Flower Creek Dam with the expectation of melting a channel in the ice. Then as weather prompts, the Task Force will start with ice extraction starting from the confluence of the Kootenai River and working their way up, slowly, breaking up and/or removing ice within the confines of Flower Creek. During this operation, there will be equipment staged at each bridge to watch for ice movement and prepare for their quadrant of ice remediation when activated.

“Lincoln County and City of Libby are trying to be proactive in this event and we ask that the public please not venture to the areas of work as it adds to the risk of the event,” the press release said.

For updates, watch the EMA Facebook Page at facebook.com/LC.EMA.MT