$4.7 million grant goes to City of Libby for Flower Creek Dam replacement

The City of Libby will receive nearly $4.7 million in federal assistance to finally replace the Flower Creek Dam.

The grant, approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA-RD) and announced by senators Jon Tester and John Walsh this week, will be in addition to a $3.7 million loan to the project that was also announced on Tuesday.

Libby Mayor Doug Roll said the new round of funding, combined with community funding and Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) grants, would allow the project to finally move forward after two-and-a-half years of delays. 

The announcement of the funding follows a setback in the planned 2013 construction of the 68-year-old dam. The halt came after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service asked for a biological assessment of the grizzly bear, Canada lynx and bull trout populations, though the project was again given the go-ahead after approval this past spring.

Roll said there was about a month-and-a-half of design plans and the approval of a rural water rate structure that needed to be finalized before construction could begin.

Roll said this would be after a bidding process and it could be August or September by the time they break ground.

The new dam would be just downstream from the present dam.

Tester, who said he urged the USDA to approve the grant, stated it was a great example of tax dollars being put to their best use. Both he and Walsh also met with Lincoln County commissioners in June to discuss the “rapidly deteriorating” dam that was the only water source for Libby.

“This project is critical to health, safety and economic development in Lincoln County,” Tester stated.

 “The families of Lincoln County can thank the strong leadership and tireless work ethic of their community leaders who addressed this problem head on,” stated Walsh. “The replacement of the Flower Creek Dam will critically improve the water quality for local residents, bring good-paying jobs to Northwest Montana and address public safety.”