Bonner County formally declared a local disaster on Dec. 16, 2025, after spring-like snowmelt and heavy rain led to significant flooding that closed East Spring Creek Road and Lightning Creek Roads. Bob Howard, Bonner County director of emergency management, told the Board the chair had made a verbal declaration earlier that morning and asked the Board to sign a written declaration.

"Bonner County Emergency Management is requesting the Board of County Commissioners to sign a written disaster declaration during this emergency," Howard said, citing road closures and rapid erosion. The board voted to approve the county-level disaster declaration after a motion and second.

Howard also reported the county requested time-sensitive assistance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to stabilize riverbanks and maintain access on impacted county roads. "When we request the Corps of Engineers to provide this flood-fight assistance there's a certain window of opportunity... all the work the Corps of Engineers are doing for us is at no cost to Bonner County," Howard said, and asked the board to ratify a cooperative agreement that the chair had signed administratively.

Commissioners approved a motion to ratify the cooperative agreement and authorized the chair to sign. The county's civil counsel reviewed the agreement, and commissioners said the agreement was approved promptly because of the emergency and had been cleared by auditing and legal review.

Commissioners reported they have requested state-level emergency designation to unlock up to 50% matching funds for eligible emergency costs and said the governor provided verbal approval pending paperwork. The county emphasized that state or federal emergency funds typically cover temporary measures—access, life-safety work and stabilization—while long-term road reconstruction and paving would remain county responsibilities and likely require later budget adjustments.

Residents who spoke during public comment described local damage and urged broader, longer-term work. Dimitri Borisov, a resident who said his property was affected, noted this was the second time Spring Creek washed out at the same location in 20 years and urged the county to press the Army Corps for more permanent solutions, including clearing log jams and potentially rerouting channels.

The Board said it would continue to work with County Emergency Management, the state Office of Emergency Management and federal partners to document damages, request matching funds, and prioritize immediate access and life-safety repairs while planning longer-term maintenance and repairs.

Next steps: the county will finalize paperwork for the governor's emergency declaration, authorize a representative (typically the county emergency director) to act on the county's behalf in state requests, and continue coordination with the Army Corps under the ratified cooperative agreement.