Rains raise concerns of new flooding

Recent rains are again raising the level of creeks in the Bear's Paw Mountains and prompting concern that more flooding is on the way.

Hill County Commission Chair Mike Wendland said 4¼ inches of rain have fallen in the mountains over the last few days, and the level of Beaver Creek is again rising with large amounts of water flowing into Beaver Creek Reservoir about eight miles south of Havre.

"There really is concern," he said.

Wendland said the county is warning people who live near Beaver Creek between Beaver Creek Dam and the Milk River that lowland flooding is again likely.

He said that Beaver Creek Park had not fully recovered from the flooding a few weeks ago, when rain and melting snow inundated campgrounds. While the county commission is not formally closing the park, Wendland said he doubts using it would be a good idea.

"I don't think the weather will be conducive to using the campgrounds," he said.

Information about the chance of flooding in Blaine County and on Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation was not available by deadline this morning.