Agency starts over on lake access

The Daily Inter Lake

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is going back to the drawing board for a new public access at Lake Five, but the site may not end up on Lake Five.

A new environmental review will consider "sites on Lake Five as well as other sites in Northwest Montana," a Fish, Wildlife and Parks press release states.

The "new approach" is the result of an agreement with Lake Five residents who sued the state, claiming that the public wasn't adequately involved in the initial selection of the site.

The state approved plans last year for a boat access, parking area and host pad on a 10-acre site on Lake Five that would be purchased with money donated by a woman in memory of her deceased son.

That decision came after the release of a draft environmental assessment, followed by a public comment period that included an open house in Hungry Horse. Because of the large amount of comments received, the comment period was extended.

But Lake Five residents who sued Fish, Wildlife and Parks said the environmental review and the public comment were inadequate. The plaintiffs got an injunction barring the state from developing the site because Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks did not involve the public in the initial site selection.

The compromise allows the state to start a new environmental process conducted by an independent third party yet to be selected.

Some Lake Five residents originally opposed the access because of concerns about safety hazards that could arise with increased boat traffic, and litter, crime and other problems that could come with a developed public access.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks had identified Lake Five as a priority for public access in Northwest Montana. The 151-acre lake currently can be accessed only by launching from the private Lake Five resort.

Jim Satterfield, regional supervisor for Fish, Wildlife and Parks, said the department aims to complete the environmental review and public comment period in time to begin development of a new site - somewhere in Northwest Montana - by next summer.

"We are committed to find the best possible public access site as soon as possible," he said.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com