County sets up river commission

The Flathead County commissioners are looking for people to serve on a fledgling Flathead County River Commission.

The commissioners voted Wednesday to create the nine-member committee.

Its purpose is to study ways to improve water quality in the Flathead River and its tributaries' including erosion and setback matters - and to provide advice to the commissioners, said Joe Brenneman, the commissioner who conceived the idea.

The committee also would seek grants for water-quality projects.

Brenneman had the idea last year during controversies over the county upgrading its subdivision regulations, which included river setbacks.

Many riverfront land owners stayed quiet during those hearings and deliberations, and Brenneman thought their input should be tapped.

He also noted the river's effects on the water quality of Flathead Lake - a centerpiece of this area's economy and culture.

The commissioners are seeking volunteers within the next few weeks to serve on the committee.

The committee slots include one commissioner, one person from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, one person from Flathead Conservation districts, four landowners with property along the river or its tributaries, and two at-large members.

On Wednesday evening, two Planning Board members - Marc Pitman and George Culpepper Jr. - voiced interest in serving on the committee.

However, some Planning Board members voiced concerns about the fledgling committee being a way for the commissioners to circumvent the board on specific controversial matters.

Brenneman said the Planning Board's focus is on land use matters, while the fledgling committee is supposed to advise the county commissioners directly on water quality issues.

There could be some overlap of issues, at which point the committee would go through the Planning Board, he said.