Oil and Water Don’t Mix

Please join American Rivers, Flathead Lakers, Headwaters Montana, Flathead Valley Trout Unlimited, and the National Parks Conservation Association for a public film showing and discussion regarding the oil train derailment threat in the Middle Fork Flathead corridor on Thursday, September 14 from 6-9 pm at the Arts & Technology Building Community Room at Flathead Valley Community College.

The event will start at 6pm with social time, followed by a 7pm showing of three short films. The locally produced film “Oil and Water Don’t Mix” serves as a call to action to protect Flathead resources from the threat of an oil train spill along the Middle Fork Flathead River. “Every Bend” highlights the importance and value of Montana’s Wild and Scenic rivers. And “Convergence” focuses on the impact of climate change on Montana’s rivers, including the Middle Fork Flathead River.

A panel discussion will follow the films, led by local community members including fishing guide Hilary Hutcheson, USGS aquatic ecologist, Clint Muhlfeld, UM Flathead Lake Biological Station Assistant Director, Tom Bansak, and a Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal representative.

The event is free, open to the public and kid friendly. The social time includes complimentary light refreshments. The door prize is a guided whitewater trip on the Middle Fork Flathead River donated by Glacier Raft Company, and raffle tickets for other exciting items will be available for purchase.

The Middle Fork was first protected as a Wild and Scenic River in 1976, and is listed as one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2017.

Today, the Middle Fork Flathead is threatened by spills from oil tank cars moving through the river corridor. A train derailment resulting in an oil spill, explosion and fire or other hazardous materials release would be disastrous for human health and safety, water quality, fish and wildlife and the economy of the region.

In its 32nd year, the annual America’s Most Endangered Rivers Report has helped spur many successes in protecting the nation’s rivers. American Rivers and its partners are calling for a spill prevention safety plan specific to the Middle Fork Flathead corridor to prevent an oil train disaster.

You can find the 2017 Endangered Rivers Report at https://www.americanrivers.org/threats-solutions/endangered-rivers/