State doubles funding for Somers Beach project

State parks officials gave unanimous approval last week to a doubling of planned costs to develop Somers Beach this year along the northwestern shore of Flathead Lake.

At an estimated $100,000, the cost increase covers initial development of the new state park, including basic items like a parking lot, signage, bathrooms and trash receptacles.

Montana’s Parks and Recreation Board last week also approved a land swap for more public shoreline at Lake Mary Ronan State Park, as well as two new archery additions at Lone Pine State Park and at Flathead Lake State Park.

At Somers Beach, state parks officials estimated last year that basic beach development would cost $100,000. “Across-the-board” increases in construction and development costs planned by the department, however, led to a revised estimate this year of up to $200,000.

FWP staff did not provide specific details on the Somers Beach cost increases, other than noting increased construction and development costs overall have proved troubling for the past three years.

FWP is now working with the state Budget Office on a “safety valve” for such increases, staff said during the meeting, being careful to maintain their credibility in estimating projects.

IN OTHER business last week, the board gave unanimous approval to a land swap with private landowners the Sandau family and FWP at Lake Mary Ronan State Park. The swap will deliver an additional roughly 67 feet of public shoreline north of the park’s public boat ramp, following a years-long negotiation.

A previous proposal was dropped after a 2018 environmental assessment, per a change in building design plans by the landowners.

Legal troubles in 2020 centering on a park encroachment used to access the Sandau property, and other private site development plans, again stalled the swap.

The department and family ultimately rebooted a smaller version of the 2018 plan, which includes the family trading roughly a tenth of an acre of shoreline abreast of the boating and day-use area for slightly more than a tenth acre of upland woods just east of Sahinen Lane.

The deal additionally included a fair-market selling to the Sandaus of another 0.069-acre park parcel for about $3,700 to correct the park boundary encroachment.

ALSO LAST week, the board gave unanimous approval to an expanded archery range at Lone Pine State Park, as well as unanimous approval of a new archery range at the Big Arm Unit of Flathead Lake State Park.

With a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant, FWP will purchase 9.3 acres southwest of Kalispell to expand the Lone Pine State Park outdoor archery range for $191,000. The westward expansion of the range would add 2,000 feet of trail and double available target sites there to 12 total by late August. FWP said Thursday that the range has experienced a 30% jump in self-registrations at the facility.

FWP has proposed a new archery range at the Big Arm. The range — planned with a covered shooting line, lockable storage and trail to up to 12 additional outdoor shooting stations — would stand west of U.S. 93 and directly across from the park’s main entrance.

Planned development costs for the new range span from about $323,000 to nearly $414,000. The Fish and Wildlife Service would cover 90% of the project through grant funding, and FWP will cover the remainder.

The range is slated to be ready by summer or fall.

Reporter John McLaughlin can be reached at 758-4439 or jmclaughlin@dailyinterlake.com