In the Flathead Valley, our infrastructure often shares space with the wild, and progress can sometimes be best measured not in concrete and steel, but in cooperation, care, and long-term vision.
The recent completion of construction on the Blankenship Erosion Prevention Project marks one such effort. Located upstream from the historic Blankenship Bridge, the project was designed to stabilize a vulnerable section of riverbank in the northwest quadrant, a spot where erosion threatened to compromise the bridge approach and Blankenship Road itself. The work and review, completed April 28, represents over two years of interagency coordination, planning, and environmental review.
Flathead County led the project in partnership with the Flathead National Forest, which owns adjacent land and has regulatory oversight due to the Wild and Scenic River designation of the Flathead River and the presence of threatened fish species, including bull trout.
“This was a great example of agencies working together,” said Robert Davies, District Ranger for the Flathead National Forest. “By using natural materials like large woody debris, rocks, and native willows, we’ve utilized modern techniques for riverbank stabilization. The project provides stability for the Blankenship bridge abutment while at the same time improving fish habitat for native cutthroat trout and bull trout.”
The Forest Service contributed more than 20 large woody debris structures with root wads still attached—key for both habitat and erosion control—along with over 2,000 native willow cuttings, hand-harvested from the region. These elements mimic natural processes, creating a more resilient riverbank and a healthier aquatic ecosystem.
At an estimated total cost of $750,000, funded primarily by Flathead County with in-kind support from the Forest Service, construction lasted approximately two months. During that time, crews worked to redirect the river’s flow more securely under the bridge while limiting disruption to the river’s natural character.
But while the construction phase is now complete, the full measure of the project’s success will unfold more slowly.
“From an engineering and ecological perspective, it takes one or two high-water seasons before we can say it’s fully successful,” Davies noted. “We’re confident in the structure, but we need to see how well the willows take hold and how the system responds under pressure.”
In other words, nature needs time. And so do the roots—both literal and figurative—of this work to settle in.
Ongoing monitoring will help evaluate fish habitat improvements and bank stability. In the meantime, residents and river users should notice little change in access or flow—just a little more harmony between the built and the natural worlds.
In an era when rapid development often pushes ahead of thoughtful planning, this project is a testament to the power of taking our time, working together, and letting the landscape guide the way.