Bonner County commissioners have unanimously approved a county-wide disaster declaration regarding recent extreme weather and its potential danger to life, property and structures.  

It was officially approved during Tuesday’s business meeting, following a verbal declaration by Bonner County Chairman Brian Domke at 4:06 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 11. 

Extreme weather conditions resulting in snowmelt, heavy rain and flooding, as outlined in a memorandum submitted to the board, have caused the closure of East Spring Creek Road and Lightning Creek Road. Other roads were also affected by the extreme weather, including Johnson Creek Road and Trestle Creek Road, Domke said.  

Similar weather is expected to hit the county again this week, as higher-than-normal temperatures and rainfall are projected in the forecast. Announced on Monday, Dec. 15, a flood and high wind watch is already in effect until today, Dec. 17.  

Commissioner Domke said during Tuesday’s meeting that he has already made a formal request to Idaho Gov. Brad Little to declare an emergency for the county at a state level. The governor has already approved the request verbally, according to Domke, and the county is currently waiting for the appropriate paperwork to finalize the declaration.  

The declaration will allow the state to provide up to a 50% match for funds needed to temporarily fix roads and other infrastructure damaged due to extreme weather.  

Funds used for the intent of fixing damaged roads and infrastructure will not be used to fix things back to the condition they were prior to the start of the emergency. As a result, some road and bridge projects that were slated to occur in 2026 may be pushed back so that the department can fix damaged roadways caused by flooding.  

Related to the flood conditions of the county, Bonner County Emergency Management was also approved for a cooperative agreement between the county and the United States of America Army Corps of Engineers to aid in stabilizing riverbanks alongside East Spring Creek, Lightning Creek, Trestle Creek and Johnson Creek.  

Stabilization, while temporary, is aimed to provide further flood protection until the damaged levee is repaired.