Flathead Basin Commission to meet Wednesday

The Flathead Basin Commission will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 21 in Whitefish.

The past few months have been tumultuous ones for the water-quality group. It’s seen its budget gutted by lawmakers and its anti-invasive mussel pilot program challenged by the executive branch.

Stephanie Hester, invasive species program manager for the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, described Wednesday’s gathering as a “re-set meeting.” Governor Bullock has recently appointed three new Commission members: Stephen Frye, who has formerly served as both a Department of Natural Resources and Conservation regional manager and a Glacier National Park head ranger; Mike Koopal, the Whitefish Lake Institute’s executive director; and Ed Lieser, a retired U.S. Forest Service silviculturist and former state representative.

The meeting is scheduled to begin with a review of the Commission’s purpose, enabling legislation, bylaws, and current operations. The commissioners will then discuss future goals and plans for the commission. These include new leadership: Jan Metzmaker, the commission’s past chair, was not re-appointed by the governor, leaving vice chair Rich Janssen to fill her role. The morning’s agenda includes the election of a chair and vice chair.

The afternoon will further discuss the commissioners’ goals moving forward, and the role of the Flathead Basin Protection Fund.

The meeting will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish. It is open to the public, and a comment period will be held at 1:40 p.m. For more information, contact Stephanie Hester at 444-0547.