Lakeshore variance corrections OK'd

The Flathead County commissioners on Thursday approved technical corrections after the fact for oversights on two lakeshore variances allowing fill projects on the north shore of Flathead Lake.

After a Planning Office code enforcement officer recently inspected completed work on two separate properties in Bigfork — one owned by Bob Keenan of Bigfork and the other owned by Rick and Robin Blackwood of Bozeman — he discovered the gravel fill was smaller than the three-quarter-inch gravel required for shoreline fill projects.

Since both Keenan and the Blackwoods had requested the smaller-sized fill material in their applications for a lakeshore permit variance and both variances were approved by the commissioners, the oversight was fixed by approving a technical correction for both property owners.

Keenan’s fill work was done as a minor lakeshore permit variance while the Blackwoods were required to get approval for a major lakeshore variance to place gravel fill in the lakeshore protection zone at their property on Holt Drive. The commissioners approved the major variance in April.

Mark Lorang of the Flathead Lake Biological Station contacted the Planning Office last winter because he wanted to put fill along the lakeshore and create natural spits and beaches on both properties, Planning Director BJ Grieve said, adding that Lorang’s research supports this action as a better way to stabilize the lakeshore than installing retaining walls or riprap.

The Blackwoods’ property had a severe erosion problem due to wind and wave action along the north shore of the lake, Lorang said. The placement of 1,465 cubic yards of gravel and cobble material on the lake bed aims to reduce erosion and restore lost habitat.

Nearly 2 miles of the north shore have been protected using the same ratio of gravel and cobble per foot.

The commissioners denied an earlier request from the Blackwoods for a minor variance because they wanted environmental issues more thoroughly reviewed. Lorang then began work on an environmental impact statement for the project.

The shoreline restoration is intended to work with the existing river currents and lake waves that deliver new logs each year to the lakeshore, along with fine sediment and wood chips generally known as peat.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.