A panel of water quality specialists will address the issues regarding surface water in the Swan Valley and its relationship with the local environment and its connection with groundwater quality at the US Forest Service Condon Work Center on April 26 at 7 p.m. Representatives from the Montana Department of Natural Resources, Montana Department of Environmental Quality and the Missoula County Health Department will answer questions from the public and give tips for preserving water quality.

“We’re providing information to people so they can make better management decisions about their property,” Diann Ericson, education coordinator at the Swan Ecosystem Center, said.

Residents interested in water quality, curious about the current status of the Swan Valley’s water quality or those with questions about testing and maintaining their water quality are encouraged to attend.

Tony Nelson from DNRC will discuss the relationship between a healthy riparian area and water quality. Robert Ray, DEQ’s Swan Valley water mitigation specialist, will discuss the best management practices for the protection of water from contamination including sediment and chemical waste. Ray’s segment will also include the importance of wetlands for maintaining water quality.

According to Ericson, different ecosystems have different needs and new residents in the Swan Valley and Bigfork area may be unaware of the best way to manage their land to preserve its natural resources.

Jarrod Mohr, DEQ’s area representative from Kalispell, will review state regulations as they apply locally. Erik Englebert of the Missoula County Environmental Health Department will review the steps in establishing a well and septic system on private property in the county.

The specialists will also discuss the connection between surface water and groundwater.

“It’s so people can get a basic understanding of what is going on underground as well as what they see everyday,” Ericson said. “As residents of Bigfork and Condon, it’s what we can do to maintain our water quality.”

The informational program is free to the public, but participants need to register by April 20. The USFS Condon Work Center is near mile marker 43 on Montana 83 near Seeley Lake.

For more information and to sign up, call the Swan Ecosystem Center at 754-3137.