Protecting water is legitimate priority

It should go without saying that one of the Flathead Valley’s most important natural resources is its pristine waters. We treasure our water, use our water, watch over our water.

So when a new use for our water comes to our attention, we’re rightfully concerned. A recent proposal to create a 27-acre manmade water-skiing lake, line it with plastic and build houses around it has created a fair amount of controversy, not only among neighbors of the project but also with those who seek to protect our water and our environment.

Rosewater is a proposed 58-lot subdivision that would be built in two phases around a specially constructed lake east of Whitefish Stage Road and north of Rose Crossing. It’s aimed at homeowners who are avid water-skiers, because the manmade lake is designed specifically for practice runs.

Neighbors are worried the plastic liner, the approximate thickness of three playing cards, could potentially spring a leak, causing water tainted with herbicides and motor-boat fuel residue to drain into the nearby Whitefish River or possibly pollute water wells.

Not to worry, says developer Bill Tanner. There are lots of water-skiing lakes around the country; in fact, there’s one in Helena. The liner has a 20-year warranty, and if a leak were to occur, there are specialists who can find and repair holes. One competitive water-skier who testified at a recent Planning Board hearing said if the liner is installed properly it’ll last over 100 years.

Of course Tanner won’t be monitoring the lake 20 years from now. Once the subdivision is built, the liability for any leaks in the liner apparently would fall on the Rosewater homeowners association. The Planning Board has recommended a long-term maintenance plan for the liner, along with monitoring of wells, but ultimately the burden is on subdivision residents to keep the lake from springing a leak.

And leaks do happen in lakes lined with plastic, whether or not they’re water-skiing lakes. A quick Internet search will tell you that Viewpoint Lake homeowners in Sun City, Ariz., are figuring out how to address seepage at their manmade lake. In Avon, Colo. the liner of a manmade lake within the city also was found to be leaking, and replacing the liner would cost up to $1.5 million.

After receiving what they deemed new information about lake liners at a public hearing two months ago, the Flathead County commissioners sent the project back to the Planning Board for a second public hearing specifically addressing the liner concerns. The extra review was the right move.

The commissioners will be making a final decision on Rosewater in the coming weeks. It’s a difficult call. They’ve already approved a zoning overlay that will allow homes to be clustered around the manmade lake, and added a condition changing the lake from a permitted to a conditional use.

Finding a balance between respecting the developer’s property rights and safeguarding our water resources will be crucial for the long-term well-being of the Flathead.

Editorials represent the majority opinion of the Daily Inter Lake’s editorial board.