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Conducting Public Events Related to 

Floodplains, Flooding & Rivers:

A Toolkit for Interested Montana Communities

You can do it! Making your life easier is the purpose of this toolkit. Planning, preparing and conducting 

public events related to floodplain management has been successfully accomplished throughout Montana. 

Drawing on these successes may help you plan an event in your community. Examples and related 

documents/templates are for your benefit and share a folder with this document. Use them. Listed 

contacts are generously sharing information and may be reached for further data. This isn’t a blog. 

However, if you wish to post something related to this Toolkit, please email mguokas@mt.guokas with a 

subject line of “Toolkit”. 

Events listed are not the only or the greatest floodplain related public events, merely examples to illustrate 

a range of possible event types. Congratulations are extended to all the communities that have conducted 

events, whether or not they are listed here! May you also be encouraged to “do it again”. For 

communities aspiring to hold a first time event, go for it! Examples are listed first by “Stand-Alone” 

events, listed chronologically, followed by “Piggy-Backed” events with most recent events appearing 

first.

Stand Alone Events

Stand alone events only focus on flood or river awareness. These events require a significant amount of 

time and effort to plan and coordinate.

Example 1 Miles City River Awareness Conference II (2nd Annual)

Date: November 7, 2009 (Saturday)

Contact: Steve Craddock, City of Miles City, (406) 234-3493 or 

scraddock@milescity-mt.org

Description of Event: Free educational sessions and booths were open to the 

public sponsored by many agencies and organization during the day at Miles 

Community College followed by keynote speaker Char Miller, from Pomona 

College, California. Audio broadcasts from this event are available at 

http://gov.milescity.net/

Costs: not available

Funding Sources: 

Montana DEQ, Non-Point Source Water Pollutions Mini-Grant

o Grant applications DEADLINES (2 times per year):From June 1 to July 1 & From Jan 1 

to Feb. 1

o For First Time Events

o Awarded for exactly $1,500

o For Details see: http://www.deq.state.mt.us/wqinfo/nonpoint/319grants.asp

Or contact Kristy Zhinin at KZhinin@mt.gov or (406) 444-7425 

City Funds

Participating agencies and organizations contributed staff time and associated travel costs. 

Partners Included: Miles Community College, Custer County Conservation District, 

Yellowstone River Conservation District Council, Montana DNRC, Montana FWP, MSU 

Joe Whalen of Miles City 

introducing keynote speaker. 

Photo credit: DNRC
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Extension Service, Keep America Beautiful, National Wildlife Federation, and several other 

local, state, and federal agencies as well as additional organizations and companies.

Notes: The First year was a weekday event. The second year was held on a Saturday. The City may 

conduct a Friday educational session for professionals, followed by a Saturday event for the general 

public.

Related Documents, Example 1: Evaluation Forms, Flyer, Press Release, Reporting Expenses, 

Schedule.

Example 2 Lewis and Clark Flood Awareness Day (2nd Annual)

Date: May 15, 2009 (Friday)

Contact: Chris Evans, Lewis and Clark Conservation District, 

(406) 449-5000 x-112 or lccd@mt.net

Description of Event: Over 100 6th grade students participated in 

about 9 interactive sessions, each lasting about 20 minutes. 

About 13 students were in a group and groups rotated through all 

the stations. Interactive sessions were hosted by different 

agencies and organizations with collaboration and support from 

6

th grade teacher, Todd Samson. 

Costs: Not available

Funding Sources: The first annual was funded by Montana DEQ, Non-Point Source Water Pollution 

Mini-Grant (see above). The 2nd annual was funded by the Conservation Districts “HB 223 “Grant 

http://dnrc.mt.gov/cardd/loans_grants/cdloangrants.asp for the Lewis and Clark Conservation District. 

Partners Included: East Valley Middle School, Lewis and Clark County DES, Lewis and Clark Water 

Quality Protection District, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Park, Montana DNRC CARDD, US Geological 

Survey (USGS), East Helena Fire Department, NOAA National Weather Service, Natural Resource 

Conservation Service (NRCS)

Notes: An interested and supportive science teacher and school helped make this a repeat event. Advance 

planning and a willingness of different agencies and organizations with “ready-to-go” educational 

activities for youth resulted in teachers and parents saying, “I hope you’ll be back next year.

Related Documents, Example 2: Draft Costs, Press Release, Sandbag Score Sheet, Schedule and 

Stations, Student Groups by Color, 

Example 3 Flathead County Flood Awareness Day (2nd Annual, 1st Annual:

Flood Awareness Week)

Date: April, 2008 

Contact: Patti Mason, Flathead Conservation District, (406) 752-4220

pattim@flatheadcd.org

Sandbagging competition led by US Army 

Corps of Engineers. Photo credit: DNRC

Photo Credit: Lewis & Clark 

Conservation District. 
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Description of Event: Flood Awareness Day was similar to the above, Lewis and Clark Flood 

Awareness Day. Flood Awareness Week had added activities including a table top exercise held for a 

wide range organizations and agencies that would be affected by or responding to flooding. 

Costs: Not Available

Funding Sources: Flathead Conservation District and participating agencies and organizations. Use of 

the county fairgrounds was donated by Flathead County. 

Partners Included: Flathead County Fairground, Flathead County Planning Department, US 

Army Corps of Engineers, Montana DNRC, Flathead Public School District.

Notes: Contact Patti Mason to find out teacher resources. The first Flathead County Flood 

Awareness Week was initiated by Flathead County Planning Department, spearheaded by Traci 

Sears, currently the Montana National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Coordinator, who was 

then working for the FH County Planning Department. 

Related Documents Example 3: Evaluation of Event, Flood Awareness Week Draft Schedule, Invite to 

Teachers, Station Flow for 1 Group, Teacher Resources, Teachers Packet TOC, Tentative Flood Day

Schedule

Piggy-Back on Other Events

In addition to the events you already know, you may find ones at http://visitmt.com/experiences/events/ . 

Consider Farmer’s Markets for no fee or low cost booth space.
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Example 4 Fairs along the Hi-Line: 

Date: July, 2009: Blaine County Fair/Great Northern 

Fair (Havre), and Phillips County Fair: 

Contact: Marv Cross, Montana DNRC Havre Office, 

(406) 265-5516, mcross@mt.gov

Description of Event: Montana DNRC Havre/Glasgow 

staff coordinated floodplain publications and Roll Up displays to be on site at the above three fair 

events. Arrangements were made so booths could be securely left unattended. A maximum of 

1,000 people visited the floodplain booth at all the fairs. 

Costs: Negligible

Funding Sources: Staff hours furnished by DNRC and other related agencies. Booth space 

donated by fairs administrators.

Partners: 

Notes: Activity Book for Kids (FEMA P-522) disappeared like hotcakes at these fairs. Order 

this publication by calling 1-800-480-2520. 

Example 5 Western Montana Fair (Missoula) 

Date: August 4-10th, 2008 

Contact: Todd Klietz, Floodplain Administrator for the City of 

Missoula and Missoula County, (406) 258-4841 

tklietz@co.missoula.mt.us

Description of Event: The Fair receives about 60,000 

participants over a 6-day period although attendance at the 

floodplain booth was about 500. The booth was located on the 

upper flood in Exhibitors Hall with publications, historic 

photos, roll-up displays, Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) 

for Missoula County and information about the Digital FIRM process. Kid quizzes were used to 

engage the younger crowd. 

Costs: $275-booth space plus about 80 staff hours

Funding Sources: Staff hours furnished by Missoula County and City of Missoula, AMFM 

volunteers, and DNRC staff. AMFM helped sponsor booth cost.

Partners: Association of Montana Floodplain Managers, Missoula County, City of Missoula, 

Montana DNRC

Fairgoers visiting floodplain 

management booth. Photo credit: 

DNRC
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Notes In 2008, the Western Montana Fair required a signed Commercial Exhibitor Contract and 

a current certificate of fire and liability insurance. It was learned that booth burnout could occur 

in a warm upstairs exhibit hall.

Related Documents Example 5: Sample Fair Booth Schedule Template, Fair Kid Quiz

Example 6 Missoula 100th Anniversary of the 1908 Flood

Date: June 21, 2008 (8:00 AM – 1:00 PM)

Contact: Justin Ringsak, Clark Fork River 

Watershed Education Program, (406) 496-4897; (406) 

491-0922 jringsak@mtech.edu

Description of Event: The Clark Fork River’s Farmer’s 

Market was held as usual but with the added bonus of 

fun and free activities and booths related to the 

centennial of the great flood of 1908, which heavily 

impacted the Clark Fork River, almost blew out the 

Milltown Dam, and was the source of much of the mine 

tailings sediment being removed from the Dam today. 

Activities included science demonstrations, art contest, 

and the Rolling Rivers Trailer. 

Costs: not available

Funding Sources: 

Partners Included: Clark Fork Watershed Education Program (CFWEP), Watershed Education 

Network, City of Missoula, Missoula County, Montana DNRC, Clark Fork Coalition, Clark Fork River 

Market

Notes: The Clark Fork River Market organizers were accommodating. Visitors were pleasantly surprised 

to see “extras” at the Farmers Market. Beautiful warm weather helped with the success of this event. 

Other Documents Example 6: Kid Activity

Example 7 Flood Awareness Day, Park County/Livingston

Date: June 11, 2008 (4:30 – 7:30 PM) 

Contact: Phillip Fletcher at 333-4102 or pfletcher@parkcounty.org or 

Mary Guokas at 444-1343 or mguokas@mt.gov

Description of Event: One of the weekly summertime Farmers Market 

hosted by the Corporation for the Northern Rockies at Sacajawea Park, 

near the Yellowstone River was a natural event to piggyback on for flood 

awareness. The City of Livingston generously provided the use of the Civic Center on the rainy 

evening of the event. It seemed like it was a win-win for the Farmers Market and the Flood 

Awareness Day Event. Each drew local people and exhibitors for the benefit of all. 

Symbol used for Livingston 

Farmers Market, a 

Corporation of the Northern 

Rockies event.

Todd Klietz points to historic photos and maps. 

The Clark Fork River is about 100 yards to the 

right of the photo. 
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Costs: No direct costs incurred. Provisions made possible by participating partners.

Funding Sources: Partner contributions.

Partners Included: American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America, City of Livingston Chamber 

of Commerce, City of Livingston: Fred Department, Planning Department, Corporation for the 

Northern Rockies, Montana DNRC, Park County DES, Region VIII FEMA, Montana 

Watercourse, Montana Department of Fish Wildlife and Parks, Park Count Conservation District, 

Park County: DES, Health Department, Planning Department, Park County Rural Fire District 1, 

Park County Search and Rescue, US Army Corps of Engineers, Yellowstone River Conservation 

District Council. 

Notes: Originally, it was hoped that this event would be a for school children. It wasn’t feasible 

to involve the schools and working with the Farmers Market proved very successful. 

Other Documents Example 7: Flyer, Press Release, To Participants