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Flathead Lake Levels Affecting Boats and Business At nearly a foot below the summer standard, low water levels are a concern for boaters
BY TRISTAN SCOTT OF THE BEACON
Boaters and business owners on Flathead Lake say historic low lake lev- els are already presenting problems, and they worry that if the trend continues the summer boating season could dry up early.
Tim Marinan is owner of TRM-T.R. Marinan Co., and has operated boatlifts and storage stations around the lake for 26 years. It’s only the second time he’s seen lake levels this low, and the first time he’s seen them drop so early in the summer.
“This is the first time the water level has affected us this early,” Marinan said. “I know of at least six customers with their boats stuck on lifts because there’s not enough water.”
The elevation of Flathead Lake’s sur- face has dropped one foot in less than a month, to just above 2,892 feet, the lake’s minimum target level for summer.
The drought conditions have led Northwestern Energy, which manages the lake’s outflows through Kerr Dam, to implement its drought management
plan. The company announced earlier this month that it would be taking mea- sures to maintain the lake’s elevation at roughly 2,892 feet, but boaters are con- cerned that irrigation pressures will force the level down even further.
Mark Dana, owner and manager at Lakeside Marine and Powersports, said the low lake levels have been an incon- venience but haven’t yet presented any serious issues; however, if the water goes down a few more inches it could prevent boats from accessing marinas, fueling stations and boat slips.
“It’s definitely concerning because we’re at the minimum right now and it’s only July,” he said. “We just opened up. If it goes down another six inches people are going to have problems.”
Ron Caldbeck owns Wildwave Water- craft and Boat Rentals in Lakeside and said boaters are complaining because their vessels are sitting so far below the rail of the dock.
Administrators at Northwestern Energy have asked to adjust the amount of water coming into Flathead Lake from Hungry Horse Dam as well, in the hopes
Flathead Lake. GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON
of maintaining the new pool level of 2,892
feet through the end of August.
With the hottest part of the summer
still ahead, the aim is to balance recre- ational and environmental needs with drought management.
In September, the Confederated Sal- ish and Kootenai Tribes will take over the operation of Kerr Dam.
“We’re all taking a hit, but right now it is mainly an inconvenience for people,” Marinan said. “But any more than a foot drawdown, suddenly boat ramps aren’t going to be long enough, it’ll expose rocks, and if you have a boat slip in a shallower part of a marina, if it’s not deep enough you are just done boating for the year.”
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County Population Increasing at Faster Rate
Flathead County is among the fastest growing in Montana after gaining nearly 1,800 new residents last year
BY DILLON TABISH OF THE BEACON
After a brief period of stalled growth, Flathead County’s population is rising at a high rate reminiscent of the pre-re- cession rush, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Flathead County saw an uptick of 1,799 residents last year, the largest year-over-year population increase since 2008, when this was one of the fastest growing areas in the state.
The population picked up steam the last two years after flatlining from 2009- 2012, when the county gained only 1,458 residents. The growth in 2013 almost matched that entire four-year span with 1,433 residents.
According to census estimates, Flat- head County has gained the third most people — 3,323 — among Montana’s larg- est counties since 2012. Gallatin County has jumped 4,704 and Yellowstone County has risen 3,746.
Previous projections showed Flat- head County, which hit 94,924 last year,
could hit 100,000 residents in 2018, but the recent increase could move up the milestone to within a couple years, according to census data.
Local hospitals are delivering babies at record rates. North Valley Hospital in Whitefish delivered a record 520 babies in fiscal year 2015, according to adminis- trators. The previous record was 500. The hospital is in the process of expanding its birth center to accommodate current and projected growth. The new rooms are expected to be ready by Labor Day.
The birth center at Kalispell Regional Medical Center is experiencing a similar baby boom. From Jan. 1 through July 8, there were already 407 babies deliv- ered. The average for the whole year is roughly 500, according to hospital administrators.
A closer examination of the local pop- ulation figures reveals a few interesting trends, particularly involving the aging demographics and evolving labor force.
The Flathead’s reputation as a favor- able destination for retirees is proving
credible. The largest percentage of new residents — 24.3 percent — is 65 and older.
“Flathead County is attractive for retirees and it’s a desirable area with a lot of amenities,” said Joe Ramler, senior economist with the Montana Depart- ment of Commerce Census and Economic Information Center.
The county also has a large segment — over 8,000 residents — who are 55 to 59 years old, meaning they are approaching retirement age. According to experts, the same situation is playing out across Mon- tana and could disrupt the labor force and create a worker shortage in the coming years.
The influx of retirees could stall eco- nomic growth in the Flathead and across Montana because there are not enough younger people to replace the retiring Baby Boomers, research shows. Mon- tana is already down to 3.9 percent unem- ployment but projections show slower job growth in the next 10 years, according to Wagner.
FLATHEAD COUNTY POPULATION GROWTH
YEAR POPULATION
2004 81,247
2005 83,320
2006 85,759
2007 88,245
2008 90,260
2009 90,910
2010 90,928
2011 91,222
2012 91,692
2013 93,125
2014 94,924
CHANGE SINCE PREVIOUS YEAR
(+1,604) (+2,073) (+2,439) (+2,486) (+2,015) (+650) (+18) (+320) (+470) (+1,433) (+1,799)
SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU POPULATION DIVISION. POPULATION FIGURES BETWEEN 2004-10 WERE VERIFIED THROUGH THE 2010 CENSUS. THE FIGURES SINCE 2011 ARE ESTIMATES.
“This is a real challenge for the state as a whole,” Wagner said.
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JULY 15, 2015 | FLATHEADBEACON.COM