Musselshell County, MT
Musselshell County, located in southcentral Montana, is a rural area with a population of just over 5,000 people. The Musselshell River runs west to east through the county, creating both a natural resource and a flood risk.
Over the past 10-15 years, frequent and severe flooding in Musselshell County has significantly damaged bridges and roads, and resulted in the need for dozens of property buyouts. Residents are seeking effective flood mitigation and resilience strategies.
Musselshell County became a FloodWise community in 2023 and receives free technical assistance through the program. Introduced to the community by partners at the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, FloodWise is working closely with county staff to understand their flood resiliency goals, help them achieve those goals efficiently, and access the necessary resources.
FloodWise hired Great West Engineering to assess, model, and prioritize flood mitigation solutions along the Musselshell River and throughout the county. Great West will identify flood solutions to reduce risk to the community, potentially utilize the properties acquired by the city and county during past floods, and ideally provide dual benefits of both flood mitigation and outdoor recreation opportunities.
Musselshell County’s leaders aim to reduce the community’s overall flood risk and vulnerability, ensuring a safer and more resilient future for its residents. The collaboration with FloodWise provides critical resources needed to achieve these goals and secure support for ongoing and future flood mitigation projects.
Snapshot
- 2023 FloodWise community
- Population: 5,200
- Major waterway: Musselshell River
- Flood type: Ice jams, river flooding