The Missoula Board of County Commissioners voted to approve a trails bond request from 5 Valleys Land Trust to fund trail and trailhead improvements at the Rock Creek Confluence property.

Nick Zanetis, presenting the item, said the 5 Valleys Rock Creek Confluence property is located off Rock Creek Road at the confluence of the Clark Fork River and Rock Creek and described planned improvements. "The Trails Bond request here will fund 3 segments of trail," Zanetis said, and added the project includes parking-lot expansions on the east and west trailheads, a privacy partition to enable seasonal restroom facilities, and wayfinding signs and kiosks.

Commissioners asked for clarification about the small northeast trail segment; Zanetis said that route will formalize an existing social trail used by walk-in fishermen and improve organized river access. Zanetis also reported funds remaining in the parks-and-trails bond program: "Taking this into account and a few of the projects we've had this summer, we're at about 1,600,000.0," he said.

A commissioner moved approval and the resolution passed by voice vote; the transcript records the vote as "Aye." The presenter said the 3 new trail segments are intended to be built next summer or by the end of this fall.

The approved improvements aim to formalize informal routes to the river, expand parking capacity and add visitor information and restroom accommodations during the summer season. The county will work with 5 Valleys Land Trust on project timing and implementation.