Proposal would expand Lake Five fishing access

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is seeking public comment on a proposed donation that would add 4 acres to a public fishing access site on Lake Five near West Glacier.

The donated property would add to the forested shoreline of Paul's Memorial Fishing Access Site. The access site is currently 10 acres in size and grants access to boating, fishing, and other water-based recreation on the 164-acre lake. The donation would be from private landowners adjacent to the access site.

Paul's Memorial Fishing Access Site currently includes 150 feet of shoreline and the proposed addition would add an additional 250 feet of shortline. FWP anticipates that the addition would accommodate shore-based recreation and reduce crowding on the site. The addition would also reduce safety hazards at the existing boat ramp and dock and would be accessible from the site's current parking area.

Before a proposed project can be approved, an environmental review must be conducted to identify and consider the potential impacts of the project on the environment. According to the draft environmental assessment, which includes the donation proposal, the donation would benefit the area by removing congestion on the boat ramp and providing non-boating users with more room, improving safety conditions.

The fishing access is the only public access site on Lake Five, which is located in a high-use recreation corridor. FWP's ownership of the donation would be subject to a life estate by one of the donor's family members, meaning that they won't possess the property until the death of that family member.

In recent years, Lake Five has been a topic of conversation for many people and groups in the Flathead Valley. Notably, a group called Friends of Lake Five, Inc. filed a suit against Flathead County and the county commissioners against the development of a resort on the lake. In August of 2020, a preliminary injunction was granted on the work being done on a controversial resort on the lake. In March, District Court Judge Amy Eddy issued an order that voided the major land use permit for the resort and required that the land be restored to its unaltered condition.

The Fish and Wildlife Commission was set to discuss the Lake Five Rulemaking Petition at their meeting on Dec. 20, but the agenda item has been moved to the commission meeting on Feb. 20. The petition asks for the adoption of a rule to restrict boating activity to a no-wake zone on the lake.

FWP is not proposing any development or improvements on the forested property and future improvements would be subject to an environmental assessment and public engagement, according to FWP in a press release.

The proposed donation is outlined in a draft environmental assessment that can be read at https://fwp.mt.gov/news/public-notices. The public comment period ends at 5 p.m. on Jan. 15, 2023 and comments will be accepted by email to tpowell@mt.gov, or by mail to Tony Powell, 490 N. Meridian, Kalispell, MT 59901.