Welcome to the Three Forks Floodplain Information and Application Site

This page will assist Three Forks’ citizenry in understanding the issues associated with the local floodplain as well as the requirements of governments and local residents. Some of these include:

  1. To protect human life and health;

  2. To minimize expenditure of public money for costly flood control projects;

  3. To minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with flooding and generally undertaken at the expense of the general public;

  4. To minimize prolonged business interruptions;

  5. To minimize damage to public facilities and utilities such as water and gas mains, electric, telephone and sewer lines, streets and bridges located in areas of special flood hazard;

  6. To help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the sound use and development of areas of special flood hazard so as to minimize future flood blight areas;

  7. To ensure that potential buyers are notified that property is in an area of special flood hazard; and

  8. To ensure that those who occupy the areas of special flood hazard assume responsibility for their actions.

This page should also assist Three Forks area residents requiring flood insurance to have lower annual premiums. 

For a full text of the floodplain, its purpose, requirements, obligations and actions each person should read the floodplain ordinances by clicking that menu item to the left as well as perusing this entire site to get full details on the Three Forks area floodplain.

For any additional information or questions please contact the City of Three Forks, Kelly Smith - Floodplain Administrator.  I can be reached by phone at (406) 285-3431, by fax at (406) 285-4136, by email at KSmith@ThreeForksMontana.us, or by regular mail or coming into City Hall:     City of Three Forks, 206 Main Street, P. O. Box 187, Three Forks, MT 59752. 

Thank You,

Kelly Smith, Floodplain Administrator

Floodplain Permits

Much of the city is located within the 1% chance of flooding mapped by FEMA.  To learn more, please continue reading on this page.

Before doing any MANMADE IMPROVEMENTS to a property in an AE flood zone, you need to apply for a Flood Permit well in advance of work being done.  

Permit Required: A floodplain development permit issued by the floodplain administrator shall be secured prior to any floodplain development (any manmade change to improved and unimproved real estate, including, but not limited to, buildings or other structures, mining, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations), including the placement of factory-built homes, within any area of special flood hazard. See City Ordinance Chapter 12. If the application is deemed incomplete, the Floodplain Administrator will notify the applicant of deficiencies within sixty (60) days. Under no circumstances should it be assumed that the permit is automatically granted. All approved applications will be signed by the Floodplain Administrator. Denied applications may be resubmitted if additional information is provided to support a change in development.

Flood Elevation Certificates:  A preliminary elevation certificate is required for all property that lies in Flood Zone AE.  After completion of any construction that requires a Flood Elevation Certificate, please have the final certificate completed by your engineer and forwarded to the City Office.