Flood Mitigation Project Progressing

There was great news in 2024 for the City of Three Forks Flood Mitigation Project. At the last City Council meeting of the year in December, Great Western Engineering Natural Resources Business Unit Manager Jeremiah Theys updated the governing body on the project.

Theys told the Council they have finally secured the funding and are ready to move forward with the project's next steps.

In October, it was announced the City of Three Forks was awarded $4,152,375 in FEMA funding for the project that will use a grass-lined conveyance channel and culvert crossing improvements to reduce flood risk from the Jefferson River. According to the Montana DES, the project will remove 946 structures from the Jefferson River floodplains, mitigating an estimated $62-96 million in damages to residential structures in the event of a 100-year flood.

Theys said it took two years to get through FEMA's process, but that may have been a blessing in disguise because since then, the Montana State Legislature has set aside some Community Resiliency Funds, and the state matched the other 25 percent of the 5.5 million project.

"That's great news," Theys said.

With the project including a culvert crossing structure to carry water underneath MT HWY 2 before terminating into a natural side channel of the Jefferson River, Theys reported he has met with department heads at the Montana Department of Transportation to talk about the next process and steps.

Theys added that they would love to start construction in late fall or winter, but that could be a little challenging on the wetland side of things.

Theys said that while they hope to start in late fall, it would more realistically be the spring of 2026. He added that there is a lot of upfront work with landowner easements, final design, utilities, and MDT approval.

According to Theys, the project will have a big impact on the community, reducing flood risk and flood insurance premiums and allowing potential development.

"It's taken a long time to get here. It's been a slow process, but it's a good process. When we can get something 100 percent grant funded, I think it's always great," Theys said.