Page 13 - Flathead Beacon // 2.12.14

FLATHEADBEACON.COM NEWS FEBRUARY 12, 2014 | 13

Whiteish to Ask State for

Non-Motorized River Designation

PROTECT
City oicials convince

local FWP to endorse

proposal to restrict

the
motorboats on stretch of
Whiteish River

By DILLON TABISH of the Beacon
present
Local administrators with Mon-
tana Fish, Wildlife and Parks came
around after discussions with White-
ish city oicials last week and are now

recommending the state commission to
consider designating a non-motorized
stretch of Whiteish River.
The city is seeking restricted access
along the popular recreational artery
near its origin at Whiteish Lake to the
bridge at JP Road. The proposal, ad-

opted by the city council in November,
would amend the current no-wake reg-
ulation and restrict the stretch of river
to manually powered vessels like kay-
aks and stand-up paddleboards or boats
with electric motors. If approved, it
would establish the irst non-motorized
waterway in Montana.
The Whiteish River near Riverside Park. GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON

“I think Whiteish is unique in the “We just didn’t feel there was enough the commission, FWP oicials urged
fact that throughout most of the com- of a problem,” Anderson told Stearns, Whiteish to wait until a later date and
munity we have this slow, meandering Hildner and Muhlfeld.
gather public input to ensure that in-
scenic waterway that essentially bisects FWP law enforcement oicers have deed there is consensus in the commu-
our town,” Whiteish Mayor John Muhl- received a limited number of complaints nity in support of the non-motorized
feld said last week in a meeting with o er the years of boats disobeying the no- designation.
FWP agency oicials.
wake regulation, and several individuals Muhlfeld countered, asking for
“For years or decades now it hasn’t have been cited, according to the agency. FWP’s local support to move forward

been the focus of the community be- But the volume of problems did not ap- and hopefully gather broad comment
cause the impact of diesel spills back pear to justify adding more regulations, through the rulemaking process, which
from the BNSF days. Now we’re at a Anderson and Satterield both said.
involves a extended statewide scoping
point where that’s cleaned up and we’re “Is this really necessary to be adding period.
trying to embrace the river and embrace more regulation or more education?” “I feel if we don’t have the local sup-
that corridor as an amenity. For our Satterield asked.
port on this it’s probably not going to get
town, the non-motorized designation But then Hildner raised another very far,” Muhlfeld said. “Rather than

plays into that.”
question: what if the community simply the city of Whiteish initiate another
City manager Chuck Stearns and wants it and the designation involves a public process to your recommenda-
councilor Richard Hildner, who has social factor?
tion, why not provide your support and
spearheaded the designation since 1989, In the summer months when White- initiate the public process through rule-
will be in Helena this week to present the ish Lake attracts leets of motorboats making, which in my opinion would be
request to the Montana Fish and Wild- and jet skis, Hildner and others would a much more robust process than the
life Commission at its Feb. 13 meeting. like a stretch of water set aside that wel- local process. We’re really not risking
The ive-member commission, which comes paddlers or other non-motorized anything or asking a lot. Then we’ll see

oversees regulatory measures involving users seeking refuge from choppy wa- how the public comment shakes out.”
ish, wildlife and recreational resources ters.
Satterield said he would mull it over,
across Montana, will vote whether to “I want to be proactive to make sure which he did. The following morning he
move forward with the amendment pro- the city encourages a use that’s compat- revised FWP’s memo to the commis-
cess and open a public comment period ible to families or people seeking a quiet sion, stating, “In talking with the City of
before making a inal decision later this place to take their boat,” Hildner said.
Whiteish, they are interested in adopt-
year.
The social issue was not included in ing this regulation to address social de-

Initially, Whiteish did not have the the initial proposal to FWP, and after it sires to create a unique opportunity for
support of FWP’s regional oice, mak- was raised as a contributing factor, both non-motorized users and feel there is
ing the proposal almost certainly dead Satterield and Anderson said it should major support for this proposed regu-
on arrival.
be formally acknowledged in the appli- lation. Moving forward to rule making
In a meeting with city oicials last cation.
would provide the ability to determine
week inside City Hall, FWP regional di- “If this involves the values of White- public sentiment for this regulation.”
rector Jim Satterield and Warden Capt. ish and is a social issue — if that’s part of The commission’s meeting on Feb.
Lee Anderson said the agency did not it — then that should be part of the dis- 13 will be streamed live at the FWP of-

www.ThreeRiversBankMontana.com
feel changes were necessary due to safe- cussion,” Anderson said.
ice in Kalispell starting at 8:30 a.m.
ty and resource concerns.
Before presenting the request to
[email protected]