The Flathead Lake Biological Station held an open house and unveiled its new innovative wastewater treatment plant on Aug. 8.   

Kicking off the event was a presentation by the director of the station, Jim Elser. He explained the history of wastewater management at the station and the process of choosing which system would be best to keep protecting Flathead Lake.  

Elser explained the development and research surrounding phosphorus and water quality throughout the 1960s and ’70s. As scientists realized Flathead Lake’s water quality during that time, dire headlines, such as “Flathead Lake is dying” appeared in local newspapers. 

“A lot of concerns were being raised in the ’60s and ’70s about this in the Flathead and in fact, the bio station was involved on the wrong side of this problem,” Elser said during his presentation. “We had a big septic system at that time and it was failing. This is not the headline you want when you're the director.”  

Elser discussed other directors' decisions with the wastewater treatment and improvements that were made which lowered the levels of phosphorus seeping into the lake. He said the last treatment plant was built in 1975 with a 20-year life span.  

“So, what was keeping it together for a couple decades? Duct tape and prayers,” Elser said, as the crowd of about 60 people laughed.  

Elser said when he became director, fixing this system was one of his biggest concerns. He said before he started the position the station had already been working on replacing the system. A number of treatment systems were proposed, including a sewage lagoon.  

Elser vetoed these options in hopes of finding something better for Flathead Lake. They eventually found a system that deploys modular membrane bio-reactor treatment technology. This uses microorganisms to break down organic matter and then filters it through the membrane.  

This treatment technology is also used in some local cities, such as Whitefish, Bigfork and Polson. But Yellow Bay’s modular is a unique system that arrived in a shipping container.  

Elser led the crowd outside with a plunger and toilet paper in his hand, which is what he used as his “ribbon.” With the toilet strung in front of the new system, Elser cut the toilet paper and declared the system “open for popping.”  

The total cost of the project was $2.1 million and it was funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, the State of Montana and three anonymous foundations. The new treatment plant has been running since April and Elser was able to show the crowd the clarity of water compared to the clarity of Flathead Lake.  

“We think we'll be discharging one tenth of the phosphorus we were previous to this,” he said. “Just to be clear, we were always within our EPA discharge limit.”  

Elser explained with development and population increases in the area, the station wanted to invite people to learn about this system which has a smaller footprint.   

“So instead of just building more septic systems, maybe we need to do something different,” Elser said. “It's not necessarily cheap, right? So, we have to be willing to invest in what it takes to protect the enormously valuable resource we have here.” 

The open house included various opportunities for the public to engage with the station’s scientists about their research, monitoring and educational program. The event also had live music, food and boat rides.  

Johnny Lapotka, Finn Murphy and Riley Johnson build a dam in the interactive water table at the Flathead Lake Biological Station on Aug. 8. This table includes construction and farm equipment to teach kids about how activities on the land affect the water quality. (Emily Messer/Leader)