SWEET GRASS COUNTY — The Sweet Grass County Sheriff's Office has planned a search Saturday for missing fisherman Bradford Wade Meadows.
50-year-old Meadows of Billings was last seen July 24 near Fourmile Campground 42 miles south of Big Timber.
In a Friday release, officials said Meadows fell into the Boulder River and was swept downstream about a week ago.
Crews will search the area that begins at the lower Fourmile Campground north to the Hawley Mountain Ranch.
Sheriff Alan Ronneberg closed the lower portion of Fourmile Campground as a staging area for the search.
The search team will be made up of local search and rescue volunteers, two dog teams from Gallatin County Search and Rescue, a drone pilot from Sweet Grass UAS, and a dive team from U.S. Water Rescue from Yellowstone County.
According to the release, "water levels have dropped in the week since Meadows was last seen, however conditions remain treacherous in the search area. Heavy rapids below Meadows’ entry point hamper the use of boats to better gain access to the river’s midpoints."
Ronneberg said they plan to use a rope system and a raft to gain more water mobility during the search.
Authorities are asking the public to avoid the search area Saturday to give the crew more room to work.
If you have information about Meadows, contact the Sweet Grass County Sheriff's office at 406-932-8143.
Related: Missing fisherman identified, search still underway along Boulder River
