UPDATE: 2 p.m. - July 25, 2024
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) has closed sections of the Bitterroot and Clark Fork rivers following Wednesday evening's storm.
The closures have been put in place because of concerns about downed power lines in the water.
The Clark Fork River is closed from Milltown State Park, just east of Missoula, to the Petty Creek Fishing Access Site (FAS) west of Missoula.
The Bitterroot River is closed from Chief Looking Glass FAS near Florence to the confluence with the Clark Fork River near Missoula.
(first report: 11:12 a.m. - July 25, 2024)
People are being advised not to float on the Bitterroot River between Lolo and Missoula.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) has been told that power lines are down across a portion of the water between Lolo and Buckhouse Bridge. This also applies to people using the Oral Zumwalt access just south of Missoula.
FWP cautions that some of the power lines, such as those across the Bitterroot River, can be hard to see from far away.
State wildlife officials also note that water will be carrying more debris in the aftermath of the storm, which can create dangerous hazards, and access sites might have obstacles.
"FWP urges river users and others to use caution and carefully evaluate the area you are planning to go while cleanup efforts continue," a news release states.
