BLM urges caution when floating the Madison River
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to use caution when floating the Madison River. (BLM
photo by David Abrams)
(DILLON, Mont.) – As high water continues to surge across the region, the Bureau of Land Management’s Dillon Field Office urges floaters to use caution along the Madison River.
“The extraordinary winter snow pack has melted quickly and led to high water across the region,” said Chris McGrath, Outdoor Recreation Planner with the Dillon Field Office.
Current flows on the Madison River are nearly twice the average levels, he added. High water is likely to linger on the lower Madison into the summer season, so floaters should be prepared for higher-than-average flows when they reach for their inner tubes. These high flows present a number of dangerous situations, especially for people who are not prepared or experienced.
The BLM encourages floaters to use California Corner when launching their trips. This site is located a half-mile downstream from the Warm Springs Day Use Area and functions as the overflow parking area.
“Warm Springs generally fills up by 11:30 a.m. so if you are getting a late start, save yourself the hassle of trying to find a parking spot and just stop in at California Corner,” McGrath advises.
For more information, please contact McGrath at 406-682-4082, or call the Dillon Field Office at 406-683-8000.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.