Development plan for Somers Beach State Park finalized

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks finalized its development plan for the recently created 106-acre Somers Beach State Park this week.

The park will include day-use amenities like trails, picnic areas, a parking lot, a hand boat launch area, vault bathrooms and three overnight rental cabins, according to plans developed by the wildlife agency. The park comprises lakeshore, wetlands, floodplain and uplands between the federal Flathead Lake Waterfowl Production Area and the community of Somers.

“It's a pretty rustic park and that's what we heard from the public,” said Dillon Tabish, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ Region 1 information and education program manager. “We heard that [the public] wanted to keep it a pretty rustic, natural park.”

There will be no overnight tent camping, however, though the wildlife agency originally included it in its preferred proposal. Officials will also enhance an additional 922 feet of shoreline using an erosion control beach.

The final decision, signed by Lee Anderson, the agency’s Region 1 supervisor, assumes that the development will not have significant adverse effects on either the human or physical environments associated with the project.

“The intent of developing recreational amenities is to guide and enhance use in a way that minimizes visitor impacts and conserves important natural, cultural and recreational resources,” the decision notice reads. “Benefits include improved accessibility, opportunities for outdoor recreation, wildlife viewing, and interpretive and educational programming.”

The park will feature a host site so an individual is on hand to deal with questions, issues and conflicts, Tabish said. Agency staff and game wardens will monitor the property, but the host stays there full time during the busier months.

“It has been a very popular model at some of our other places,” Tabish said.

Over 1,250 people participated in the scoping survey and 80% of them are estimated, based on contact information, to live within the Flathead Valley.

The decision can be viewed at https://fwp.mt.gov/public-notices/news/2023/apr/somers-beach-decision-notice.

Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks acquired the lakeshore property in 2021. Prior to the development plan, interim activities completed in the area included the creation of an access road, a parking lot and an erosion control beach.

Throughout 2022, the agency conducted public scoping and planning meetings among interested parties, the results later included in the Somers Beach State Park Development Proposal Draft Environmental Assessment in January of 2023.

A 30-day public review period began at the beginning of this year and closed mid-February. Tabish said many of those contributing to the discussion were concerned about noise levels from an excess in lodging, which led to the removal of the overnight tent sites option.

Traffic and light pollution concerns also bolstered the argument for rejecting any development of the area during the public comment period, owing to the possible adverse effect on the lake, surrounding environment and wildlife.

Developmental concerns included the number of cabin and host sites, trash disposal, parking, the safety of a boat launch, ADA accessibility and the effect on the bird habitat. Still, some respondents favored more amenities.

“Signage, trails, a flush toilet and potable water and a carry-on boat site will allow park visitors to enjoy the site to its fullest,” one public comment reads.

“FWP concurs,” the agency responded.

All of those features will be developed with the exception of a flushable toilet. The park will instead include a vault latrine.

There will not be an entry station or natural playground on the property.

While the 2021 Montana Legislature authorized dollars for the development of the park, public donations through Montana State Parks Foundation and the Flathead Land Trust will help with additional costs. If costs exceed available funding, according to the agency, the development of the group picnic shelter and the hand launch site could face postponement.

A timeline has not yet been shared and Tabish said that there is still a lot to do: going to the parks and recreation board, hiring a consultant to further develop the plan and more. He hoped officials could begin to make progress next winter, if not next summer.

“We’re excited to have chartered a path forward for Somers Beach State Park, Montana’s newest state park,” Tabish said.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has asked the public to respect the ongoing seasonal closure along a large portion of the north shore of Flathead Lake between Bigfork and Somers to protect and support migrating and nesting birds.

From March 1 to July 17, the area is closed to public access to reduce human disturbances. Disturbances, which include walking near the area or nests or letting dogs run off leash, can harm birds.

Public access to the north shore beach remains open at Somers Beach State Park and Osprey View property along Holt Drive near Bigfork. Dogs must be kept on leash at both locations.

For more information, visit https://fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/somers-beach.

Reporter Kate Heston can be reached at 758-4459 or kheston@dailyinterlake.com.