Over the past 60 years my professional attention has been focused on the two most immediate and required prerequisites for life: air and water. All else is “et cetera.” We humans have not taken care of our Earth’s air and water. which is a tragedy in and of itself. As our population continues to increase (growth is good, right?), we will be in a constant panic mode and fighting to protect what we need to if we are to survive.
Now comes a request to increase our resort tax a pittance of 1 percent to protect our own and future generations’ water resources here in the valley. It’s a no-brainer. When critical needs require action, thank goodness we have leaders like Mayor John Muhlfeld and his council to step up to the plate. This increase will not change shopping habits.
We must have the financial means to provide the most basic of life’s demands. Ask everyone you know to push the public policy makers to always protect as much water as possible, not just “now and then.”
If anyone needs detailed data on the condition of waters in the Flathead, contact the Whitefish Lake Institute, Whitefish High School Free Flow Program or the University of Montana Biological Station.
As to the protection of our air, remember that you breathe 24/7.
R. A. Solberg
Whitefish