Flathead Rivers Alliance launches Rivers Rundown Speaker Series with April 21 event
Whitefish Pilot | UPDATED 2 weeks, 6 days AGO
Flathead Rivers Alliance is kicking off its 2026 Rivers Rundown Speaker Series on Tuesday, April 21, with the first session focusing on the history and protection of the North Fork of the Flathead River.
Each year, Flathead Rivers Alliance hears a common and important question: What protects the Flathead River from mining and mountaintop removal? This opening event in the series is designed to explore that question and provide a deeper understanding of the policies, people, and pivotal moments that have shaped protections for one of the most intact river systems in the world.
The North Fork of the Flathead River, along with the Middle and South Forks, benefits from strong, layered protections, including designation under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, which safeguards the river’s free-flowing condition and outstanding natural values.
Decades of advocacy, partnerships, and bipartisan policy decisions, including international cooperation between Ktunaxa, CSKT, United States, and Canada, have also played a critical role in preventing large-scale mining and energy development in the North Fork watershed.
But protection doesn’t happen on its own.
Rivers remain healthy because people stay informed, engaged, and involved, according to organizers with Flathead Rivers Alliance. The speaker series is about connecting the community to the knowledge and history that make continued protection possible.
As the first event in the 2026 series, the April 21 session will dive into the history of the North Fork Flathead River drainage, highlighting both the people and pivotal moments that shaped its protection.
Featured speakers include: Flathead Rivers Alliance Board Member Jedd Sankar-Gorton along with members of the North Fork Preservation Association. Together, they will explore the fight against coal mining in the North Fork basin and share insights into ongoing conservation efforts and the broader history of the watershed.
The event is Tuesday, April 21 from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. at Jersey Boys Pizzeria, 6155 U.S. 93 S, Whitefish, MT 59937. Free and open to the public. No registration needed.