Flathead Rivers Alliance recently was awarded a Flathead Electric Cooperative Roundup for Safety grant of $5,000 towards the purchase of the structure materials for a Life Jacket Loaner Station, river ambassador first aid kits, and development of river safety messaging animations.

This grant will be matched by Flathead Resource Advisory Committee, Flathead National Forest, National Park Foundation, and Whitefish Community Foundation funds and in-kind matches from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and FRA volunteers to enhance river safety education and programming.

The Alliance, in its second year, is working to educate river users this summer at popular launch sites on the Flathead River system. The lifejackets will be loaned out to floaters who don’t have one. Permanent life jacket loaner stations will be installed at two popular river access sites and stocked through the shoulder and summer seasons.

FRA is also ramping up for the 2022 river season and recruiting 20-30 volunteer team members. In anticipation of another record river user year for the Three Forks of the Flathead, FRA is expanding their River Ambassador program and officially launching a River Recreation Monitoring program.

Volunteer trainings will be offered on April 12, 6-8 p.m. and April 14, 6-8 p.m. at Glacier Outdoor Center in West Glacier. The trainings are conducted in partnership with FRA, Glacier National Park, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and Flathead National Forest.

If you are interested in joining Flathead Rivers Alliance’s team and improving stewardship and safety on the Three Forks of the Flathead River contact Sheena Pate at info@flatheadrivers.org or visit www.flatheadrivers.org to learn more about volunteer opportunities and upcoming events.