Stormwater project complete

The final phase of the Bigfork stormwater project has been completed, whith just a few minor details left on the checklist.

Much of the work that was done isn’t easily visible, with catch basins collecting stormwater, and sending it through filters underground before it is released into Bigfork Bay, but the project did add sidewalks along Bridge Street, as well as new pavement.

The stormwater project was initiated in 2007 to address some minor flooding in Bigfork, as well as an old, inefficient stormwater system. The project was designed to reduce stormwater pollutants running into Bigfork Bay, the Swan River and Flathead Lake. The project was divided into four phases. The first three were completed in 2011.

Completion of the last phase of the project wasn’t able to happen until the county approved a rural special improvement district to fund the last phase.

The special tax district will raise $1.2 million of the $2.9 million total cost by levying taxes on 563 properties in Bigfork over a 20-year period.

The annual cost will be $138 per property for the construction of the stormwater improvements. A maintenance fee of $29.54 annually will fluctuate slightly each year, depending on the actual maintenance costs.

With a funding method in place the final phase started in September and is now almost completely wrapped up. 

The last phase addressed the north and south sides of Bridge Street. Strom drain systems have been installed along the roads to the historic one-lane bridge where they then empty into catch basins. Water from the system empties into filters on either side of the bridge, removing pollutants before going into the bay.

Sue Hanson has been involved with the project since it started in 2007, acting as a liaison between Flathead County and the community.

Hanson said she happy to see the project finally completed.

“It’s a really sense of accomplishment, it really is,” she said. “It just ran so smoothly, I was very impressed with the contractors.”

Hanson has seen first hand the gunk the stormwater filters catch, when the ones existing from the first phases of the project have been cleaned.

“It’s just amazing the those things come out with just sludge that’s stuck to them,” she said. 

A report released at the end of 2014 showed that the first three phases of the stormwater project were working well. The project reduced pollution of total suspended solids by at least 75 percent, and there was a 50 percent reduction in phosphorus and nitrogen.

The project also reduced the human health risk associated with recreational contact exposure to pathogens discharged into a water body, the report stated. Constituents associated with road de-icing were also reduced, the report said.

The report stated that according to estimated loading of nutrients, completing the Bridge Street section of the project would have the highest return on investment.

Hanson said she feels fortunate that the community was able to have the project completed. She said similar projects are much needed in other communities around the lake such as Lakeside, but that funding such projects is an issue. 

While $1.2 million of the last phase of the Bigfork project is being funded by taxpayers, more than half the project was paid for by grants.

“It’s taken a lot of hard work, but it was certainly worth it,” she said.