Montana News Roundup: Parks traffic up, but short of records

Whether it's tarrifs and the economy, or maybe the intermittent weather, Glacier National Park isn't seeing quite the traffic of recent years… and at least through mid-summer… looks like it will fall short of any record for visitation.

The latest stats from the National Park Service show 1,688,074 visitors have come through the gates at Glacier. That's 28,000 more than last year, which is 2.3% percent ahead of 2024.

However, July visits were off by 3.4%, offsetting the year-to-date total by nearly the same amount. A major factor could be the construction at Many Glacier, where visits were off by 65% for July, and 51% for the year so far.

    🏕️ There's still a chance at coming close to last year's mark, IF traffic picks up for the remainder of the season.

The National Park Service says even with the July drop-off, that's about 38,000 more than last year. But what's notable is it's also 8,000 ahead of 2021, when the post-pandemic rush pushed people into the outdoors,

     The visitation record was set in 2017, with more than 3.3 million people.

Yellowstone Park visits are also slow in July

Yellowstone is showing a similar trend, with year-to-date visits up 1.5% percent, but down 2% comparing this July with last year, and 10% off the July pace from Yellowstone's record year in 2021.

Winds fanned flames on Montana fires

Crews are continuing work to establish lines on the dangerous Windy Rock Fire burning east of Drummond. The blaze now tops over 1300 acres after Wednesday's critical fire weather, which also led to the start of the nearby Devil Fire, which has burned nearly 400 acres.

Aerial firefighters are asking boaters to stay clear of aviation operations on Hebgen Lake, where aircraft are picking up water to fight the West Fork Fire. That had burned just under 700 acres through yesterday. But fire growth is slower, and fire managers say there's still no threat to homes in Big Sky.

USFWS official: Courts are holding up grizzly delisting

A senior official with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the agency's new administration wants to see grizzly bears taken off the Endangered Species List.

But Senior Advisor Josh W.D. Coursey told a group of Choteau residents this week the courts have been an obstacle to that objective,

"This species is beyond recovery. That's why we've seen its outward expansion, the carrying capacity. It's biologically recovered," Coursey argued. "You can't question that. We've tried twice, both times we've lost. It hasn't been us. It's been the courts that have held this up." -USFWS Senior Advisor Josh WD Coursey

Coursey was with Governor Gianforte on a listening tour to hear from residents along The Front about increasing conflicts with the big bears.

Montana Mobile ID will help in airports too

There's a side benefit for air travelers with this week's rollout of digital driver's licenses in Montana.

The Transportation Security Administration is confirming that the new licenses, part of the "Montana Mobile ID" program, can be used to verify your identity when clearing airport checkpoints. The agency says travelers, at least with an Apple device, can simply hold it over the scanner, and then authorize the right info with Face ID or Touch ID.

     📲 Users don't need to show or hand their device to a TSA agent.

Flathead County gives approval to massive resort development

A major decision that could change the nature of development along Flathead Lake, as county commissioners give their approval to the controversial "Flathead Lake Club" resort, a new development of hundreds of upscale homes near Lakeside.

The plans, which include an estimated 359 homes on 1700 acres, have been generating debate for weeks, with people concerned about impacts on everything from water quality to traffic.

But during Thursday's hearing, speakers expressed fears that the exclusive development would further ruin the valley's traditional way of life.

"If anyone believes that life in Lakeside is just going to go on as before, but prettier and richer, with lots of tax dollars to spare, I have one word, and that word is Whitefish. Whitefish traffic, Whitefish tourists, Whitefish prices, Whitefish status." -Asta Bowen, Retired Teacher and Author

Commissioners approved the preliminary plat, which allows developers to begin finalizing their plans.

Timber Plan will spur mill investment

U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schulz is confident that the Trump Administration's more active approach to logging and timber production will actually prompt the private sector to re-invest in new sawmill capacity in Montana. 

Schultz, appearing at the Western Congressional Caucus meeting in the Flathead this week, argues that our National Forests can handle more timber production. He says the Lolo National Forest has harvested between 30-to-40 million board feet in recent years, but could produce as 80 million board feet. The problem is that mills, like the one in St. Regis, have closed, leaving hardly any capacity in Western Montana.

But Schulz believes the new policy will spur new investment.

"By us providing that supply that steady supply and predictability, we hope to lure businesses back to make those investments." -USFS Chief Tom Schulz

Discussions were underway this week for a plan between the feds and the state for timber management, which Schulz hopes can become a model to use elsewhere.