Sections of Bitterroot, Clark Fork rivers closed near Missoula

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.

• RELATED: Updated information from Missoula County

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.

Wildfire Watch

Haymaker fire burning 15 acres outside of Polson

Kiana Wilson

Flathead County

Renowned food safety lawyer discusses E. coli outbreak in Flathead County

Sean Wells

Wildfire Watch

Glacier National Park reporting a 30-acre wildfire

Kiana Wilson

Missoula County

After the storm: Neighbors helping neighbors in Missoula

Jill Valley

Wildfire Watch

Bitterroot sees multiple small fires start after lightning storm

Kiana Wilson

Ravalli County

Bitterroot teens digging into futures in agriculture through internships

Emily Brown