As the Flathead Valley’s latest luxury resort Territory 1889, also known as the Flathead Lake Club, makes its way through state and local review processes, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is preparing to host a public hearing Thursday on a draft of the club’s Environmental Assessment (EA) for sanitary facilities. The proposed 359-unit subdivision includes a private golf course and marina operated by Discovery Land Company, which owns luxury residential communities and clubs around the world including locations in Whitefish, Big Sky, and Shields Valley.

The EA covers the proposed public water supply, wastewater and stormwater plan for phase one of the club, which includes 80 residential lots, roads, and utility corridors. The document only reviews the sanitary services as the subdivision went through a separate approval process with the Flathead County Commission last August.

The proposed facilities include a public water supply system with three wells, a pump station, water storage tank, and associated distribution mains. Wastewater would be collected via gravity sewer mains and connections, including two low-pressure force mains that would connect to the Lakeside County Water and Sewer District (LCWSD).

The wastewater district is currently in the process of upgrading and expanding its facilities. Construction is underway in phase one, which DEQ approved last year along with a wastewater-to-groundwater permit, and district officials are currently waiting to hear back on DEQ’s approval of phase two, which would permit construction of the treatment plant.

DEQ officials note that the wastewater district has enough capacity in its current facility for the 80 initial lots proposed in phase one of the subdivision. Additional capacity for the rest of Territory 1889 will be covered in future phases of development. LCWSD General Manager Rodney Olson said the Discovery Land Company will be responsible for covering the cost of collection system upgrades.

Due to the EA’s smaller scope, DEQ officials found no significant environment impact for sanitary and water facilities in the subdivision’s first phase, noting that future phases will trigger a separate DEQ review.

“Subsequent phases of the Flathead Lake Club development would increase demand on the water supply and on LCWSD’s treatment capacity and would require separate DEQ review at that time,” officials state in the EA. “DEQ’s approval of the Phase 1 Certificate of Subdivision Approval does not authorize sanitary facilities for future phases and does not commit DEQ to any particular outcome for future applications.

“Based on the Phase 1 design and the existing capacity documented by LCWSD, the Phase 1 sanitary facilities are not expected to cause significant cumulative impacts to water quality, quantity, or distribution.”

Thursday’s public hearing on the EA will be held virtually via Zoom from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. More information on the EA and how to attend the Zoom meeting can be found on the DEQ’s website located here.

I’m Zoë Buhrmaster. Let’s dig into the rest of the Daily Roundup.