The Flathead County commissioners last week approved a major lakeshore variance that allows construction of a gravel beach to protect a property on the north shore of Flathead Lake in Bigfork.

All three commissioners voted April 2 for the variance for Rick and Robin Blackwood.

The variance allows for the placement of 1,465 cubic yards of gravel and cobble on the shoreline to protect the Blackwoods’ property at 240 Holt Drive, which has been subject to severe erosion due to wind and wave action on the lake.

Mark Lorang of the Flathead Lake  Biological Station served as a consultant on the project design.

Lorang has been involved with a series of similar gravel beach projects that have been implemented to protect neighboring private and public lands on the north shore.

Nearly 2 miles of the north shore of Flathead Lake have been protected with similar gravel-and-cobble beaches. Farther to the west, In 2005 nearby landowner Roger Sortino had proposed to use fill and concrete to protect his land from erosion on the north shore of Flathead Lake.

The proposal was met with a wall of opposition from critics who said the retaining wall would accelerate erosion and loss of surrounding wetlands.

Roger Sortino, a shopping center developer from Woodinville, Wash., launched his plans for a subdivision at the north end of Flathead Lake in June 2003. Sortino’s original plans called for a 12-lot development that required fill material on 4.3 acres of wetlands. Two of the Blackwoods’ neighbors, Lee White and Karen Simmons, testified before the commissioners last week, saying they believe riprap is a better solution than gravel fill for erosion control. Lorang, however, told the commissioners that riprap and seawalls are not considered viable alternatives to stop erosion on the north shore of the lake.

The Flathead County Planning Board held a public hearing March 12 on the variance request. There was no public comment at the hearing. The board forwarded a unanimous recommendation of approval to the commissioners.