Increasing water levels continue to cause problems in the area, with the Hill County Commission asking people to stay out of Beaver Creek Park until the water recedes.

Flooding in low areas near Havre was also reported, and rising levels are causing increasing concerns in Blaine County.

“The entire park continues to flood, and we are asking people to stay away from the campgrounds — we actually escorted some people out last night,” Hill County Commissioner Mike Anderson said this morning about Beaver Creek Park.  “We are asking people not to even drive out and sightsee.” Chad Edgar, superintendent of the park, said there is nothing he and his staff can do with the levels as high as they are.  Once the water recedes, he said, he will be working to clean up the campgrounds, repair the roads and check the bridges.

Anderson said he is hopeful the floodwaters will crest later today or Tuesday and the water will start to recede.  He said he expects within a week to lift the request that people stay off of the park.

Blaine County Commissioner Vic Miller, public information 1 for the county, said in a press release this morning that people should expect flooding on lowland areas near Clear Creek and the Milk River. Tributaries of the Milk River are running at capacity, the release said.  No road closures are in effect, though road reports are still coming in concerning water over the road.

Water diversions, in cooperation with irrigation companies, have been made to lessen the impact.

Anderson said flooding also is occurring between Beaver Creek Dam about eight miles south of Havre and where the creek flows into the Milk River.

Anderson said people living along the creek typically take precautions such as using sand bags and pumps to protect their property, but flooding is occurring including on Herron’s Park and on the Beaver Creek Golf Course.

The primary concern for the Hill County Commissioners is on Beaver Creek Park, particularly on the campgrounds, he added.

Water is over the roads to and in the campgrounds.

“We are worried about the bridges in certain areas,” Anderson said, adding that the concern does not include on the highway in the park.

He said he was not aware as of this morning of people having access to their property in the mountains adjacent to the park.

Some main road flooding is occurring, however, Water is across the road on both State Secondary Highway 234 south of the park, on Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, and on Sucker Creek Road which connects with the highway just past Bear Paw Lake, Anderson said.

Neither road is closed at this time.

The dams in the area all are at capacity, and nothing can be done to reduce their outflow, Anderson added.

All of north-central and much of central Montana is under a flood advisory issued by the Nat ional Weather Service.

The Weather service reports that Sunday morning the water level in Clear Creek on the western edge of Blaine County was near the top of its banks, and minor lowland flooding was expected.

Sunday Milk River near Harlem was near 13 feet, and expected to rise and crest at about 16 feet Tuesday or Wednesday, the Weather Service reports.

While that is below flood stage, the levels are expected to affect the temporary Merrill Bridge near Harlem, the Weather Service advisory said.