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Montana Geohazards Workshop 2025

May 8-9, 2025 (Agenda)

Flathead Valley Community College, Arts and Technology Center, 745 Grandview Drive, Kalispell, MT (Directions)


  • Information
  • Workshop Day 1
  • Workshop Day 2

The Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology (MBMG) is organizing the 2025 Montana Geohazards Workshop held at the Flathead Valley Community College, Arts and Technology Center, 745 Grandview Drive, Kalispell, MT.

Background:

Held annually since 2022, the Montana Geohazards Workshop brings together federal, state and local partners. Attendees discuss Montana’s earthquake risk, research and mitigation. In 2025, the Geohazards Workshop will gain insights from attendees to advance Montana’s earthquake resilience. Participants will discuss how research and collaboration can better inform mitigation planning to take action to reduce risk.

Objectives:
  1. Advance seismic safety collaboration with local, regional and state partners in Montana.
  2. Build a network and buy-in for seismic safety work locally and across the state.
  3. Present updates and identify priorities for research and hazard mitigation planning across Montana.
  4. Give updates and get feedback on the Montana Earthquake Working Group (MEWG). Discuss how its strategic planning process can support hazard mitigation planning in Montana.

Workshop Day 1–Agency Updates, Mitigation Planning, and MEWG Strategic Plan

Thursday, May 8 (2025): 8:00 a.m.–Noon, 1–5:00 p.m.

Time Presenter/Facilitator Topic
8:00 a.m. Check-in and coffee.
8:30 a.m.– 9:00 a.m. John LaFave and Yann Gavillot (Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology [MBMG]) Welcoming remarks, overview of MEWG, and introductions.
John LaFave and Yann Gavillot will welcome everyone and review the objectives of the workshop and of MEWG. Attendees will also be invited to introduce themselves.
9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. Michael Stickney (MBMG), and others Earthquake history in Montana and living with seismic hazards. This session will include an overview of Montana’s earthquake history and seismic hazards. It will also highlight lessons learned, challenges, and outlook for communities and infrastructure in Montana faced with seismic hazards.
9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Break.
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m. Various Updates from agencies across Montana (including discussion of priorities). Partners from different agencies across Montana will share updates about efforts to address earthquake risk, their priorities, and their challenges. Insights and feedback from these presentations will inform the MEWG sessions.
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch.
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Anna Lang (Earthquake Engineering Research Institute [EERI]), and Andrew Long (Montana Disaster and Emergency Services [MT-DES]) Call to action on seismic risk and hazard mitigation planning in Montana. This session will review Montana’s current earthquake risk and the importance of addressing this risk now. This session will also introduce the concepts of hazard mitigation planning and support at the federal and state levels.
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Colleen Elliott, Yann Gavillot (MBMG); Andrew Long (MT-DES) Review of the MEWG progress update and strategic plan.
MEWG is developing a strategic plan to outline hazard mitigation objectives for the next five years. This session will describe efforts underway and progress to date. After the afternoon break, attendees can provide feedback on specific parts of the Strategic Plan.
3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Break.
3:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Subcommittee leads MEWG subcommittee breakout sessions: strategic plan feedback. Attendees will be asked to join a theme-oriented small group. Groups will consider the day’s discussion and where there is alignment between seismic hazard mitigation planning and discussion topics, and how to include these in the Strategic Plan.
5:00 p.m Adjournment.
TBA Evening social activity.

Workshop Day 2–Geohazards in Montana

Friday, May 9 (2025): 8:00 a.m.–Noon., 1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.

Time Presenter/Facilitator Topic
8:00 a.m.– 8:30 a.m. Check-in and coffee.
8:30 a.m.– 10:00 a.m. Yann Gavillot, Mike Stickney, Stuart Parker (MBMG), and others. Earthquake hazards in the Mission and Flathead valleys.
This session will introduce current understanding and recent research on earthquake hazards in the region. This session will also highlight research gaps and future projects.
10:00 a.m.– 10:15 a.m. Break.
10:15 a.m.– 11:00 a.m. Yann Gavillot (MBMG) and various other agencies Panel discussion with local businesses and partners on major challenges.
Local businesses and partners will share their earthquake risk challenges and concerns. This will be a time to learn more about seismic risk and hazard mitigation planning through the lens of local partners, and to identify opportunities for partnerships.
11:00 a.m.– 12:00 p.m. Various Panel discussion with local businesses and partners on major challenges.
Local businesses and partners will share their earthquake risk challenges and concerns. This will be a time to learn more about seismic risk and hazard mitigation planning through the lens of local partners, and to identify opportunities for partnerships.
12:00 p.m.– 1:00 p.m. Working lunch with breakout groups.
1:00 p.m.– 5:00 p.m. Field trip.

After learning about local earthquake hazards, attendees will be invited to join a field trip to see relevant local sites in person.