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Improvements to Teakettle Fishing Access Site a Go

Environmental assessment gives green light to fall construction

By Clare Menzel
Teakettle Fishing Access Site in Columbia Falls on July 9, 2015. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon

After recently completing an environmental assessment, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will move forward with a project to improve the Teakettle Fishing Access site, which is located along the Flathead River on Highway 2 in Columbia Falls.

Since its acquisition by FWP in 1975, the site has been popular for fishing, boating, floating, and other outdoors recreation on the river.

Tony Powell, FWP’s Region 1 fishing access site program manager, who is leading the project, says that the site’s parking facilities, which the environmental assessment describes as “primitive,” have been overwhelmed for years. The site sees more daily visitors than the parking lot can hold, so cars regularly line up along the access road.

“We’ve seen skyrocketing levels of use in the past few years,” Powell said. But so far this summer, “it’s been 90 degrees…and everyone is going to the water. Our sites are full and there’s nowhere to park.”

Powell hopes this won’t be a problem come summer 2016. Improvements include additional designated parking spaces and new drive lane to improve flow on the access road.

Though the exact number of additional parking spaces isn’t finalized, Powell says “we are working hard to provide as much parking as possible in a small amount of space, while still providing a buffer of open space and vegetation between the parking area and river as well as neighboring residences.”

Though the primary goal is alleviating the tight or unsafe parking in a full lot, the changes will also align the site with the FWP’s best practices for roads, which ask that roads accommodate usage and minimize soil disturbance around parking lots.

Parking on the undefined areas at the site has led to the degradation of riparian habitat. If the site was left as is, erosion would continue to impact river sediment and disturb vegetation.

The completed environmental assessment found that any minor impacts related to the brief disturbances from construction would be strictly short term, with no enduring negative impact. The proposed action will also have no impact on public services, utilities, or taxes.

Most comments during a 30-day period for public feedback voiced praise, agreeing that improvements are long overdue. Some expressed disappointment that the proposal originally called for a reduction in truck and trailer parking, and the FWP is adjusting plans to accommodate this need.

The next course of action for the FWP is applying for federal aid to complete the project. The FWP regularly receives aid for similar projects related to water access for boating. Construction is scheduled for late fall.

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