The Daily Inter Lake

Laws, codes and a complaint system to address pollution within Kalispell's stormwater runoff is scheduled to take place this year.

The new programs address pollution problems, including mud in drainage water. However, they will not cover unpolluted ground and rainwater seeping into basements and crawl spaces, city officials said.

Susie Turner, city stormwater drainage engineer, briefed the City Council on Tuesday on the town's plans to comply with federal and state laws on this issue.

By June, the city staff plans to have a program ready for pollution-laced discharges within the city's stormwater, Turner said. The staff also plans to have the corresponding city laws on the books this year.

The 2007 efforts will include setting up standards for construction sites to handle pollution-laced drainage, and to train engineers, developers and contractors how to meet those standards. Also, a public complaint system on pollution- and mud-laced runoff is supposed to be ready this year.

Plans include creating public education programs in 2008 and 2009, as well as stormwater drainage-system maintenance programs in 2008 and 2009.

Kalispell has faced mud-laced runoff.

In spring 2006, the state cited three western Kalispell subdivisions - Bowser Creek Estates, Blue Heron and Cottonwood Park - for allowing their construction work to let water carry significant amounts of dirt into nearby creeks and ditches to eventually flow into the Flathead River.

That muddy soil can bury the nests of baby eastern brook trout. The soil also contains nutrients that cause algae to grow in the streams and Flathead Lake, clogging the habitat for other organisms.

The nutrient-laden mud adds to nutrients flowing out of the Flathead River's mouth. Within the next few years, the state, and maybe federal, governments are expected to limit the amount of nutrients flowing out of the Flathead River, its tributaries, and the various sewage-treatment plants and other nutrient sources along those streams and rivers.

Those limits are expected to translate to local governments tackling expensive fix-it measures along the streams.

Consequently, the mud-laden runoff from area construction and buildings contribute to the nutrient loading and subsequent fix-it requirements that local governments eventually will face.

Meanwhile, many Kalispell residents view drainage runoff - regardless of whether it is polluted or filled with dirt - as a major problem threatening to flood yards, basements and crawl spaces.

The city is addressing that problem through stricter reviews of design and construction, city officials said.

Reporter John Stang may be reached at 758-4429 or by e-mail at jstang@dailyinterlake.com