The Bigfork stormwater project reached another milestone last week, when crews finished up the Grand Drive section of the project with the installation of the slip lining at the public dock.
The slip line, which was installed between the outlet to the bay and the filtration units, was the final step for Grand Drive, according to an update the Flathead County Commission received on Dec. 21 from the Bigfork Stormwater Advisory Committee.
Bigfork’s entire stormwater system is expected to undergo a renovation as part of this major project. The goal is to keep undesirable chemicals and bacteria from flowing into the Swan River and Flathead Lake through various means of filtration.
Along with Grand Drive, the BSAC update also reported that the construction portion of the Phase II and Phase III on River Street are completed, along with a maintenance handbook from 48 North Engineering.
Now, engineers will set their sights on the phase of the project, which includes the southern portion of Electric Avenue, Bridge Street north of the bridge and Bridge Street on the southern end of the bay.
This section of engineering work should be completed in late January, the committee reported.
There will also be a special public meeting in the spring, during which the Bridge Street construction design will be presented. The meeting will also discuss the cost of a rural special improvement district (RSID) that could be implemented to secure additional funding for the project.
This past fall, 3,382 letters and surveys about the RSID were mailed to property owners in the Bigfork zoning district, the committee reported. Of those surveys, 893 were returned. The results of this survey will be discussed at BSAC’s January meeting.
The BSAC also announced that it has been asked to hold a field trip of Bigfork’s stormwater improvements during the Department of Environmental Quality’s stormwater conference in April.