Letters to the editor July 16

Water restrictions

All the talk about water shortages in Kalispell raises an interesting question. If we truly need to enact emergency measures and restrict water usage, why are we approving new apartments all over the city?

I know its fashionable these days to have a water crisis and blame it on global warming, but common sense says if you don’t have enough water for current residents than why are you approving building new ones?

— Ed Kugler, Kalispell

Infow and outflow

The falling level of Flathead Lake concerns many stakeholders. Public officials and news media offer frequent coverage of the issue. However, none of these accounts explore the basic question: Why is more water being released from the lake than water inflows by the Flathead River and the Swan River?

Water releases from the lake occur for two reasons: first to produce hydroelectric electricity from SKQ Dam, and second to maintain river flow rates below the dam. Water balance equals inflows, minus outflows, minus evaporation.

The unanswered question seems simple, why is more water being released from the lake than is flowing into it? Interviews with the dam management official launched off into the tangent of climate change, but failed to explore the basic water management question: Why is more water being released for the lake than the amount flowing into it? That basic question has nothing to do with climate change. Perhaps it has more to do with generating electricity and revenue for the new Tribal owners of the dam.

— Jack Kovacich, Lakeside

Booby traps

I passed a doe who had been hit by a car this evening. She was dead. Someone had tied 3 balloons to her hind leg. They said “Feel better soon.” Someone else had removed them. Thank you to that person.

It is really hard to acknowledge the uncaring people in this world. I feel angry and sad at the same time. They don’t know how to care for themselves or the planet.

The doe was beautiful. And she was a mother. It was obvious she had been nursing fawns. They are probably waiting for her as I write this. They won’t survive.

Some accidents can’t be helped and some can be. Our cars are weapons and we have booby trapped the planet for all life forms. Please recognize the impact of your actions. Please do what you can to preserve life.

— Joann Vitovec, Kalispell