Jefferson River Flood Mitigation Project

Floodwise Project Recap

“Reader’s Digest Version”

The City of Three Forks submitted funding applications to FEMA in January 2022 for the purposes of funding a flood mitigation project to reduce flood risk from the Jefferson River.  The proposed mitigation is a grass-lined conveyance channel and culvert crossing improvement project that will intercept flood waters west of town and divert them back to the Jefferson River before ever reaching the city.

The conveyance channel would be approximately 8,000 lineal feet.  Channel dimensions are anticipated to be 100-feet wide, 5-feet deep, with 3:1 side slopes. The project will include a culvert crossing structure to carry water underneath MT state highway 2 before terminating into a natural side channel of the Jefferson River.  The project cost is estimated at $6 million.

The City learned that FEMA has selected Three Forks for final review of a Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant at 75% of the total project cost.

We then worked on funding the remaining 25% through a Special Improvement District (SID).  The SID represents an area in which landowners would be assessed to fund improvements that benefit the district, and the maintenance thereof.  Landowners have the opportunity to protest the creation of this district during an upcoming protest period.

Public Hearings

Public hearings were held on 9/27/2022 and 10/25/2022 to Create Special Improvement District #34 “Jefferson River Floodplain Mitigation Project & Maintenance”.  Zero written protests were received, and the Council approved the creation of this SID at its 10/25/2022 meeting.

We sent the District details to the Treasurer’s office to be on the tax rolls starting in 2023.

The City met with the affected landowners where the proposed channel would be located, and are working on the environmental and historical assessment surveys now, as well as groundwater monitoring.

Complete Memo on Special Improvement District

Protest Period

Now that the resolution of intent has been approved, a Notice of Intent to create the District must be sent to each property owner within the proposed boundaries.  This notice was printed and mailed Tuesday, October 4, 2022.  Written protests were accepted through October 21, 2022, at 5PM.  Protests were required to have been in writing, identify the property owned by the protestor, and be signed by all owners of the property to be qualified.

ZERO PROTESTS WERE RECIEVED!

Click the links below to view exhibits to the resolution.

District Boundary 

List of Property Owners to Receive Notice

Proposed Maintenance Cost