Jefferson Watershed Council hosting meeting Feb. 23

The Jefferson Watershed Council will be hosting a public meeting to present the draft Jefferson River Channel Migration Maps and Floodplain Discovery Map on Thursday, February 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the Borden Conference Room on the corner of Main Street and West Legion Avenue in Whitehall.

The Ruby Valley Conservation District & Ruby Watershed Council are the project sponsors and administrators who have received a grant through Montana DNRC to fund channel migration mapping and floodplain discovery on rivers within the Upper Missouri Headwaters Basin.

The primary goals for the upcoming Jefferson River Channel Migration Zone (CMZ) presentation are to present the draft results of the of the mapping process, use these results to solicit feedback and recommendations from stakeholders, and to begin educating stakeholders in regards to how these non-regulatory maps can be used. The Jefferson River CMZ presentation will include information on river function, CMZ background, and how it applies to the Jefferson will be followed by a discussion period to review issues specific to the Jefferson River and answer any questions regarding the mapping process. The goal of Channel Migration Zone Mapping is to provide a cost-effective and scientifically-based tool for land managers, property owners, and other stakeholders to use for making land use decisions along river corridors.

The Floodplain Discovery is intended to gather and evaluate available floodplain-related data and information on community needs and priorities to help guide potential future flood study and flood mitigation projects. The Discovery Meeting is an integral part of the process, intended to directly reach stakeholders in the watershed and receive their feedback regarding flood related concerns in their communities. A short presentation will be given to provide background for the project before a group discussion will take place. Large scale maps will also be provided to solicit feedback from community members.

Please contact Rebecca Ramsey, Ruby Watershed Coordinator at 406-842-5741 ext 106 or rubywatershed@gmail.com with any questions.