Patti Mason

Whitefish planners added to their understanding of responsible growth recently at a workshop at the Flathead County Health Department.

Members of the Flathead Lakers, Montana Audubon and The Montana Watercourse led attendees through information critical to a long-range perspective on the effects of development in areas adjacent to streams and wetlands.

The workshop began with information about the function and value of the native vegetation "buffer" that grows around streams and wetlands. The vegetation slows flood waters down, giving time for water to soak into the ground and trap sediment and nutrients. This protects water quality in streams and recharges local ground water.

Good ground water supply keeps the streams flowing a long time after the snow in the high country has melted, even through years of drought. Plentiful clean water shaded by vegetation creates a haven for fish and other aquatic organisms. The economic benefits for local recreation and tourism are obvious.

Flood water control is becoming increasingly important as development increases around Whitefish. Land covered with impervious surfaces such as roads, sidewalks, parking lots, driveways and houses does not soak up water.

That means more water enters storm water sewers, which usually flow directly to a stream. The net effect is to increase the volume of water flowing in the streams, in essence increasing the size of the floodplain. Without storm water drainage control, homes once outside the floodplain could now experience wet basements or worse.

Mandatory setbacks seem to be popping up in many places around Montana as a way to protect these buffer areas. The largest include the three-mile setback along the Coal Banks Landing section of the Missouri River in Choteau County and the 500-foot setback in Gallatin County along the Madison River. These serve the desirable function of a visual buffer as well.

Meagher, Powell, and Park Counties require 50 feet or more along other streams. The four counties along the Big Hole River are following suit.

Cities are getting into the act as well. Missoula prohibits buildings from being built that "impact areas of riparian resources." Bozeman's setbacks range from 50 to 100 feet along streams. Great Falls, Billings and Missoula have all located parks and trails along rivers in an attempt to maintain a vegetated corridor.

Improperly designed or located subdivisions create a drain on public resources that we all end up paying for. The Whitefish City-County Planning Board is currently developing a sensitive-areas program to identify which remaining areas around Whitefish are suitable for development. This will be an important part of Whitefish's new growth policy.

Patti Mason is the education outreach specialist and watershed coordinator for the Flathead Conservation District.