Flathead Watershed News

Poker Paddle 2023
Amber Stanfield Amber Stanfield

Poker Paddle 2023

What a fantastic day it was at this year's Poker Paddle! We had an incredible turnout, with over 90 enthusiastic participants and an amazing team of over 30 dedicated volunteers! Thank you all for making it such a memorable day on the water.

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Flathead Lakers Annual Meeting & 65th Anniversary
Amber Stanfield Amber Stanfield

Flathead Lakers Annual Meeting & 65th Anniversary

The Flathead Lakers Annual Meeting & 65th Anniversary Celebration brought together over 140 attendees for an unforgettable evening at the Barn at Finley Point in Polson, MT. We celebrated in style, honoring 65 years of advocacy, conservation, and education that has shaped our Lakers community.

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Flathead Lake and rivers facing record low water levels this summer
Amber Stanfield Amber Stanfield

Flathead Lake and rivers facing record low water levels this summer

What we are seeing this summer is a result of warmer than usual temperatures in high mountain elevations in May causing snow to melt earlier in the spring. “Snow disappeared quickly this spring”, said Eric Larson, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service water supply specialist. Nearly all the snow in the Flathead River Basin above Flathead Lake melted by early June, shown in the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SNOTEL reports.

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Celebrate Lake Appreciation Month in the Flathead Watershed!
Amber Stanfield Amber Stanfield

Celebrate Lake Appreciation Month in the Flathead Watershed!

Did you know that July is Lake Appreciation Month? It's a time to recognize and celebrate the incredible lakes that grace our world, including the breathtaking lakes found in the Flathead Watershed. As we immerse ourselves in the beauty of these natural wonders, let's also take a moment to learn about how we can appreciate and protect our lakes this July. Whether you're a local resident or a visitor, here are some wonderful ways to honor and enjoy the lakes during this special month.

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Watershed Field Trips
Amber Stanfield Amber Stanfield

Watershed Field Trips

This May and June, the Flathead Lakers and Flathead Lake Biological Station had the privilege of hosting more than 275 enthusiastic 3rd and 5th grade students from Bigfork, Polson, and Ronan for immersive field trips to the Biological Station.

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End of 2023 Session Legislative Update
Amber Stanfield Amber Stanfield

End of 2023 Session Legislative Update

The 2023 legislative session ended, and what a session it was! Although we were discouraged by some of the problematic bills that passed, we did witness a few victories for water quality and our environment. All in all, the Lakers kept track of dozens of bills and took numerous actions on them. We called and messaged our legislators, provided testimony at hearings, and asked the governor to veto bills that would harm the environment. Here is a recap of the key bills we followed and took action on during the session.

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Legislative Action Needed for Septic System Overhaul
Amber Stanfield Amber Stanfield

Legislative Action Needed for Septic System Overhaul

The 68th Session of the Montana Legislature recently concluded. While there have been some tacit wins for water quality, the Flathead Lakers see this as a glass half empty session.

In the initial months of the session, there were two excellent bills to address the increasingly dire situation related to septic leachate and its degradation of water quality. We would like to applaud both Representative Dave Fern and Senator Greg Hertz, legislators who represent constituents in the Flathead Watershed, for their sponsorship of these bills.

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Somers Beach State Park Celebration and Development Plans from FWP
Amber Stanfield Amber Stanfield

Somers Beach State Park Celebration and Development Plans from FWP

Saturday, April 15th, we celebrated the newest State Park on Flathead Lake’s shores, the Somers Beach State Park. Together with the Flathead Land Trust, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, and Montana State Parks Foundation, we were excited to share this accomplishment with you.

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Free the Seed at FVCC
Amber Stanfield Amber Stanfield

Free the Seed at FVCC

The Flathead Lakers participated in the 8th annual Free The Seeds fair hosted by Land to Hand at the Flathead Valley Community College. The theme for our booth was Seeding Hope

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Owen Sowerwine matching challenge and project tours
Amber Stanfield Amber Stanfield

Owen Sowerwine matching challenge and project tours

Join us on a tour of the Owen Sowerwine conservation property, to see this hidden gem right outside of Kalispell. The 442-acre property is in a braided area of the Flathead and Stillwater rivers, including islands, wetlands, and gravel bars. This intricate river system is an important piece of the puzzle in sustaining our clean water in the river and lake downstream. It is also a gem for birds, hosting over 150 species of birds, as well as grizzly bears and bull trout.

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Share Your Flathead Climate Stories
Amber Stanfield Amber Stanfield

Share Your Flathead Climate Stories

How are you, your loved ones, your community, your traditions, or your favorite Montana places, plants, or animals experiencing rising temperatures, persistent drought, wildfires, or floods?What solutions inspire you?

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Youth Writing Contest: Creative Climate Futures
Amber Stanfield Amber Stanfield

Youth Writing Contest: Creative Climate Futures

The Flathead Lakers and Families for a Livable Climate are partnering to host a youth creative writing contest. Now through March 20, submit your story for a special feature and a chance to receive $50. Selected stories will be featured on Montana Climate Stories website, and may be included in a traveling exhibit of stories in 2023.

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A Successful Giving Tuesday thanks to YOU!
Amber Stanfield Amber Stanfield

A Successful Giving Tuesday thanks to YOU!

Thank you to everyone who donated to our Giving Tuesday campaign! Because of your kindness and generosity, we exceeded our goal and raised $11,080 to help preserve the Owen Sowerwine natural area.

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Flathead Lake Monitor - Summer/Fall 2022
Amber Stanfield Amber Stanfield

Flathead Lake Monitor - Summer/Fall 2022

Check out the Summer/Fall 2022 edition of the Flathead Lake Monitor, including Somers State Park opening to the public, the return of the Poker Paddle, and more!

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Projects and plans
Guest User Guest User

Projects and plans

The Upper Columbia Conservation Commission (UC3) met in mid February to update its partners and the public about the fight against aquatic invasive species, and outline the upcoming season's plans and projects.

The Flathead Lakers look forward to assisting Montana FWP, CSKT Natural Resources Department, and UC3 'spread the message, not the mussel' and more this boating season.

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