Gov. Greg Gianforte on Tuesday urged the Trump administration to issue a major disaster declaration for Northwest Montana after flooding affected the safety of Libby's drinking water. 

In his urgent letter to the White House, Gianforte said federal assistance is crucial to ensure public health as Libby deals with an ongoing boil advisory. 

"The scale and urgency of the situation have exceeded the city of Libby and the state of Montana's capacity to respond effectively," his letter states. 

The aid request homed in on damage to the Lower Flower Creek Dam above Libby, which is part of the Flower Creek water system that serves as the city’s water supply. A low spot on the earthen embankment was breached for roughly 12 hours during the Dec. 11 flood, resulting in moderate damage to the dam.  

On Monday, the reservoir was lowered by about 2 feet to relieve pressure on the dam as more rain was in the forecast.  

"While this measure helped stabilize the structure, it also disrupted the hydraulic flow needed to transport water to the treatment plant," Gianforte wrote. "A temporary solution was implemented to restore water delivery; however, the turbidity of the water now exceeds safe drinking standards, posing a serious threat to public health and the continuity of essential services."  

Roughly 4,000 Libby residents are served by the Flower Creek water system, according to the governor. 

Gianforte also cited concerns over elevated levels of metals in the reservoir water being collected for treatment. Samples have been submitted to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality for analysis.  

If results confirm unsafe levels of contamination, a "do not consume" order may be issued, he said.  

"The city of Libby has no alternative water source, which would leave the community without access to potable water," the letter states.  

"Immediate federal assistance is essential to stabilize the situation, support recovery efforts and prevent further harm to the community," Gianforte urged. 

He set out three priorities for federal aid, with the first being support to stabilize the Lower Flower Creek Dam to prevent catastrophic failure. 

The second priority is support for a temporary water treatment and distribution system while the dam is repaired. Finally, he said financial aid will be needed to offset the costs of repairs. 

The governor’s request is for Lincoln and Sanders counties, and the Blackfeet Nation.  

Sens. Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, and Rep. Ryan Zinke also sent a letter to Trump in support of Gianforte’s emergency declaration request.

Last week, Gianforte declared a state of disaster for the affected counties. 

WITH A forecast of dangerous winds, more rain and possibly snow, many local events in south Lincoln County were canceled Wednesday. 

The National Weather Service is predicting a 100% chance of rain Tuesday night with possible amounts between one-half and three-quarters of an inch. A flash flood watch remains in effect until 2 p.m. Wednesday. A high wind warning is in effect from 2 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday. 

Troy and Libby public school officials canceled school Wednesday. Troy also canceled its elementary school Christmas concert. Officials hope to reschedule it after the extent of the storm is known. 

Libby is hosting Troy for varsity girls and boys basketball games, but the junior varsity games were canceled. 

Windy conditions Tuesday night caused trees to fall on power lines causing outages in dozens of residences south of Libby and in the Kootenai River Road areas but power there has been restored. 

According to the Flathead Electric power outage map, there were still 160 homes without power Tuesday from Coyote Creek to the Pleasant Valley and McGinnis Meadows areas. Power has been restored to nearly 380 customers 

Kootenai National Forest officials provided an update on the Ross Creek Cedars area. It had extensive work this summer to improve walking paths, but sustained significant damage in the flooding. The public is asked to avoid the area. 

Forest Road 398 to the Ross Creek Cedars area, which is currently closed to motorized vehicles for the season, was considerably damaged, with multiple spots comprised by landslides, washouts, heavy water flow and large debris deposits. There was a large landslide on the hillside near the road, that has almost eroded to the guardrail, creating unstable road conditions. 

Currently, it appears the ancient cedars are still standing, with large amounts of smaller trees down throughout the area. Most of the scenic trail, including some bridges, has been displaced, with large amounts of sediment deposited where the trail system used to exist.