FWP seeks public comment on boating restrictions for Half Moon Slough

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is considering a resident-submitted petition to add boating restrictions to the Half Moon Slough of the Flathead River to stem alleged erosion in the area.

Landowners near the slough want the state to enact a no wake zone in the area, citing concerns about erosion on the river’s western bank in a petition submitted to the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission last year.

The residents believe an increase in fishing and wake boats traveling the river at high speeds is behind the erosion. Landowners argue that destructive wakes have eroded over 25 feet of bank, getting closer and closer to Siberlud Lane, a county road.

The petition was submitted on behalf of landowners Bob Borgan, Emmett Quigley, John Stebbins and Butch Clark. The package included a photo of the bank erosion.

“If this is not taken care of immediately our private lands will become a public access, which was never the intent when the right-of-way was granted by our family many years ago,” the petition reads.

In response, the state parks and wildlife agency will host a meeting at its Kalispell office, 490 N. Meridian Road, from 1-4:30 p.m., Feb. 15. The gathering will give interested parties the opportunity to discuss whether to restrict motorized use on the 32-acre slough to a controlled no-wake speed.

“We hope that this work group meeting will bring everybody interested in this issue together to talk about and try to find common ground to address these concerns and issues,” said Dillon Tabish, regional communication and education manager for the agency.

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission reviewed the petition at its Oct. 22 meeting, but chose not to adopt a no-wake restriction immediately. Instead, the commission asked parks and wildlife officials to establish a group to evaluate the situation and weigh possible solutions that address recreational boat use on the slough.

The discussion process will be similar to the previously petitioned Church Slough, officials at FWP said.

“The best way to resolve difficult issues is to sit down and talk about them,” Tabish said. “That’s what we hope to accomplish with everyone who cares about Half Moon Slough.”

In October 2021, the commission received a similar petition to limit motorized boating on Church Slough to a no-wake zone for the entire year. The petition cited public health, prevention of shoreline degradation, improvement of wildlife habitat and reduction of noise as the rationale behind the request.

The department recruited an 11-member work group, which met twice last August, to discuss possible boating restrictions. Members ended up proposing a 200-foot no wake zone, prohibition on wave surfing and a required minimum operational speed for the stretch of water.

State officials are expected to discuss the group’s recommendations at a Feb. 22 commission meeting.

More information about the petitions is available on the Fish, Wildlife, and Parks website at https://fwp.mt.gov/news/public-notices or at any agency office.

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