At least six Fishing Access Sites along the Yellowstone River in Southeastern Montana are under water or are experiencing some form of flooding, and others are close to flooding as the river continues to rise. Portions of four of those sites have been barricaded for safety by local officials.
Currently the West Rosebud FAS near Forsyth is completely flooded, as is the day use/boat ramp area at nearby East Rosebud FAS. The East Rosebud campground has minor flooding. The Rosebud County Sheriff’s Office has barricaded the entrances to both sites.
Myers Bridge and Amelia Island FAS near Hysham are completely flooded. Bureau of Land Management is closing the Myers Bridge site due to safety concerns and will barricade the entrance.
The Black Bridge FAS near Glendive is mostly flooded, and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has set up barricades on a portion of the site.
Seven Sisters FAS near Sidney is experiencing minor flooding.
Bonfield and Kinsey Bridge FSA near Miles City have no current flooding but are very close, according to FWP Region 7 Fishing Access Site Manager Jamie Hould.
Roche Jaune FAS near Miles City has no current flooding, but as of Tuesday night water nearly covered the pillars along the edge of the boat dock.
Other sites with no flooding are Twelve-Mile Dam near Miles City, Far West near Forsyth, Fallon Bridge, Stipek and Intake near Glendive, and Sidney Bridge and Elk Island near Sidney. Conditions are unknown at Diamond Willow FAS near Sidney.
According to Hould, sites from Miles City to Sidney will likely have some form of flooding by the weekend.
A flood warning continues for the Yellowstone River at Miles City. According to the National Weather Service, at 11 a.m. on Wednesday the stage was 13.1 feet, with flood stage at 13 feet. Minor flooding is occurring. The river will continue rising gradually through the end of the week. A stage of near or a bit above 14 feet is expected Friday through Sunday. A gradual decrease is possible next week.
FWP is urging recreationists to use extreme caution near rivers and other waterbodies. Crews continue to assess the extent of flooding, but visitors should be prepared to find road barricades to prevent resource or road damage, closures by local emergency officials, or walk-in-only access at some sites. FWP will continue to provide updates on flooding and any changes to access.
(via MT FWP; photo caption: May 2018 flooding at West Rosebud FAS.)
