This is why… Dick Siderius

I am blessed to live in the same house where I grew up as a child. My grandfather bought our land in 1911, situated along a half mile of Ashley Creek south of Kalispell. My wife and I love the views from our house, which sits on a high bench above our fields and the creek.

Ashley Creek, I've learned, has its share of problems, including warm temperatures, high nutrients, and abundant algae. According to a recent water quality study, the stream is impaired because of nutrients from agriculture, failing septic systems, lack of trees along the creek that filter out pollutants, and other pollutants brought in by stormwater runoff.

This is why, to help our creek recover, I recently put a fence along the creek to keep cows out of the river bank riparian area. I am working with Flathead River to Lake Initiative partners to bring back the native plants along the south side of the creek.

The north side of the creek hasn't had cattle on it since the flood of '64, so I've been able to see the effects they have had on the creek and riparian land on my side. Beautiful native plants and trees that help protect Ashley Creek by filtering nutrients from runoff and providing shade are thriving on the north side, but cows trampled the banks on the south side, leaving little riparian vegetation.

I know my efforts are only a beginning. It will take many neighbors along the creek, each of us doing our part, to help restore our creek's clean waters, which will also help restore and protect the Flathead River and Flathead Lake downstream .

... I'm helping restore Ashley Creek. -Dick Siderius