Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River expected to see record flooding in the next month

May 11--In all likelihood, the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River will hit an all-time record flood stage in the next month.

The National Weather Service's most recent forecasts indicate the river, which winds north from the Beartooth Mountains in Wyoming before joining the main stem of the Yellowstone, has a 70 percent chance of reaching a moderate flood stage for the first time.

As of Wednesday afternoon it was at 6.7 feet at the river gauge in Edgar, according to data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Minor flooding begins at 8.5 feet, while the "moderate flood stage" is defined as 9.3 feet.

This weekend it is expected to exceed 7 feet, Yellowstone County Disaster and Emergency Services Coordinator Brad Shoemaker said, before dropping again as temperatures cool down in the region.

"That said, with runoff as a whole this spring, we are expecting to see significant flooding on the Clarks Fork, so we don't want folks to be fooled that that was the runoff or high water isn't going to be that bad," Shoemaker said. "Our expectation is that we're going to see quite a bit of water on the Clarks Fork, with lots of flooding."

With snowpack in the upper Yellowstone basin at 170 percent of normal as of May 1, there's still a lot left to drain out of the mountains.

The Clarks Fork is expected to crest in late May or early June, said Tom Kohley, coordinator for Carbon County Disaster and Emergency Services.

Current conditions are comparable to those in spring of 2011, Kohley added, when many parts of south-central Montana flooded, including the town of Joliet, which sits next to Rock Creek.

While Rock Creek flooding isn't expected to be too significant, he said there could be substantial impacts to county roads and structures near its confluence with the Clarks Fork, near the town of Edgar.

In Yellowstone County, Shoemaker said he'll be keeping an eye on homes along Byam Road south of Laurel, and noted the possibility of "significant bank erosion and river channel migration" along the banks of the Yellowstone's main stem.

"I'm always concerned about the Huntley-Worden area, with the people that live along the river there," he said. "What I would say is keep an eye on the river, buy flood insurance, buy it early and make sure your premium is paid."

Kohler warned residents to be prepared to leave, even if they've dealt with flooding issues before. He also recommended preparing an emergency kit and remembering to grab medications, diapers, baby food and other supplies that people will need if they get flooded out of their homes.

And despite the obvious appeal of fast-moving water to paddlers, Shoemaker requested they wait for the river to recede before launching into the Yellowstone.

"It's not just hazardous for the person that uses it, it's hazardous for the search-and-rescue crews that have to come get them," he said.

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