LIBBY, Mont. — Libby city officials are seeking the local community’s patience as the effects of the December 2025 flooding persist.

In a Feb. 10 statement, Libby City Administrator Sam Sikes said city officials recognize the difficulties that heavy truck traffic has caused.

"The main temporary cofferdam construction has begun, and Noble’s crew is beginning work earlier in the morning to transport the materials on frozen roads that will hopefully minimize further damage," Sikes said in a Feb. 12 statement. "As the temperatures increase during the day and the road begins to thaw, we will stop hauling until the next morning when the road again freezes to some extent. Time will tell if this will work, as we still have to make sure the cofferdam is in place and operational within the upcoming weeks for the spring runoff. The city crew is going to be maintaining Cabinet Heights Road the best we can after the hauling is completed for the day to minimize possible traffic issues for the public.”

Sikes also addressed the problems that have occurred since several dump trucks have traveled on Shaughnessy Road and Cabinet Heights Road to remove silt from the lower reservoir.

“I would like to take a few minutes to let everyone traveling on Shaughnessy Road from Highway 2 to Cabinet Heights Road, and on Cabinet Heights Road from Shaughnessy Road to the new golf course clubhouse, know that we understand the inconvenience with the increased traffic and the effect that the dump trucks are having on the traveled roadway.

“We will be taking steps to keep the road as well maintained as possible through the upcoming weeks while the hard work of finishing the emergency protective measures on the lower reservoir is completed. We understand that the asphalt on Cabinet Heights Road is failing due to the heavily loaded trucks coupled with the saturation from the flooding and the warmer weather bringing spring break-up. It is a perfect storm of events that is creating an imperfect situation for us all. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and we ask for your patience as we work to return to normal.”

Following massive and widespread flooding in south Lincoln County on Dec. 11-12 and the failure of the Lower Flower Creek Diversion Dam, workers have removed more than 8,000 cubic yards of sediment from the lower reservoir.

Sikes said further work to build a cofferdam to help protect the city’s drinking water will require 9,000 cubic yards of rock to be transported to the lower reservoir.

“All of the sediment and rock must be hauled by dump truck and drivers must travel up Shaughnessy Hill and over Cabinets Heights Road to complete the project,” Sikes said. “We are hoping that we can finish the emergency protective measures in the upcoming weeks. Updates on the progress will be provided at the 7 p.m. city council meetings on the first and third Mondays of each month. Again, we apologize for any inconvenience and ask for the public’s patience while we get through the recovery from the flooding disaster together.”

On Monday, Sikes said most of the sediment in the lower reservoir has been removed.

“The sediment was removed to expose the wall for inspection and to determine what repair or replacement is needed,” Sikes said. “We will be working with our dam-certified engineer to get the go-ahead for the construction to begin in the upcoming days.”