Basin panel faces full agenda

The Flathead Basin Commission will meet in Kalispell Wednesday to hear an update on a Columbia River Treaty with Canada, a report on the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. potentially becoming a Superfund site, and a discussion about aquatic invasive species.

The commission will hear from Mark Reller of the Bonneville Power Administration on the Columbia River Treaty. 

Virginia Sloan of U.S. Sen. Jon Tester’s office will discuss CFAC and the Environmental Protection Agency. 

The afternoon will mostly be dedicated to aquatic invasive species and legislation that could broaden the state’s efforts to keep quagga and zebra mussels out of Montana.

There also will be discussions about waste management in the Flathead Basin, BNSF railroad mitigation efforts in the Somers area, and drought management planning efforts.

The commission, which was formed in 1983 to monitor and protect water quality in the Flathead Basin, will meet from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. at the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation offices on Timberwolf Parkway.