A proposed 97-slip marina in Bigfork Bay under consideration by the Flathead Conservation District has drawn pushback from residents concerned the project would alter the character of the bay.

Cougar Ridge Development, a Polson-based developer which operates an 86-slip marina on the south end of Flathead Lake, applied for a 310 permit through the Flathead Conservation District in April. The board is set to consider the permit during its July 13 meeting, although it’s likely an additional special meeting will be scheduled to consider the project individually and in detail, according to the District's Resource Conservationist Samantha Tappenback.  

“Any private person who's planning a project that will impact the bed or bank of a perennial flowing stream is required to get a 310 permit from their local conservation district to do that,” said Tappenback. "This project is on the Swan River. It is a perennial flowing stream and this is a proposal for a large-scale marina and a development on the shoreline or the immediate bank of the Swan River, so it certainly requires a 310 permit.” 

The proposed marina would be located on the northeast shore of Bigfork Bay, immediately to the west of the Flathead County public dock. Most of the property is in the body of water but includes a sliver of shoreline between the bay and Grand Drive. 

Bigfork Bay is considered part of the Swan River and, as such, it is subject to the Natural Streambed and Land Preservation Act, a 1975 Montana law that aims to preserve rivers and streams in their natural state. The Flathead Conservation District administers permits for more than 600 unique streams. 

According to plans submitted with the 310-permit application, the marina will include 97 boat slips, a boardwalk, a swimming area and a parking lot. No fueling would be offered at the marina, but there would be wastewater disposal provided to boaters. The application being considered by the Conservation District only pertains to the dock and not to any planned construction on the bank of the river. 

In the application, Cougar Ridge Development wrote that “the project is necessary because of the continuing/growing need for general public boat docking capacity on Flathead Lake. Without the additional capacity boat owners are only left with the option of removing watercraft from the water after every use, and without a secure overnight on water storage docking/parking. When completed the facility will provide a needed public service that is lacking on Flathead Lake.” 

Despite being in the early stages of development, the proposed marina has already drawn opposition from some residents who are concerned the project will change the character of Bigfork Bay. 

Ashley Atkins, one of the forces behind the recently formed Bigfork Community Alliance, said Bigfork Bay is at the heart of the community. 

“A lot of us go out and have jumped off the public dock and swam in there and paddle boarded and boated and tied up to the public dock,” Atkins said. “I understand that the developer legally owns the property that he owns. However, I feel he’s making something that has been public, private, and that’s what I don’t appreciate. It’s certainly not an unused, unknown area.” 

Aside from swimming access, Atkins said the Community Alliance is concerned about increased traffic, both boat traffic in the bay and car traffic on Grand Drive. The group is also worried about the impact of the marina on the environment and the flow of water in the bay.  

“I have some concerns that they’re making decisions about things that we don’t even know how it’s all going to play out,” said Atkins. 

The project was set to be on the agenda at the June meeting but was tabled due to insufficient information in the application.  

“They filled out the application for the permit, but they included as minimal detail as they could possibly get away with,” said Tappenback. “That’s why we requested additional specific information, and what we have requested out of them is geotechnical information and data. We have a lot of technical information that they need to provide to the conservation district before out board, in consultation with Fish, Wildlife and Parks, is able to make an assessment on what those impacts are going to be one way or the other when it comes to the permit decision.” 

The Conservation District considers broad criteria established by its Adopted Rules. The section for a marina “is pretty basic,” said Tappenback. 

“The following has to be considered: current water depth, stream width, stream configuration and soil bank configuration,” Tappenback explained. “The design of the marina and its dock must accommodate the anticipated sizing and capacity needs of the proposed project, and then importantly, another of our standards is that the stream bed and bank must not be excavated or dredged in order to provide channels and suitable water depth boating access into the marina.” 

Cougar Ridge Development has proposed floating docks to accommodate the varying lake levels which would be attached to steel pilings driven into the gravel, but not near the primary riverbed, according to the application documents. The docking facility would consist of a floating dock system with access to the shore via two boardwalk ramps, with one ramp connected to the Flathead County public dock. 

After receiving the 310-permit application in early April, the Conservation District walked through standard procedure with Cougar Ridge Development. In conjunction with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, a representative from both organizations met with Cougar Ridge Development on-site to review the proposed project.  

Following the on-site review, the Conservation District held a special meeting to review the application and, after receiving substantial public comment, voted to table the project. 

Tappenback emphasized that the 310 permit is only the first step in a long process for such a complex project. 

“This is all very conceptual at this point,” Tappenback said. “We’ll review the details of their application to the best of our ability, but we are probably just one cog in the wheel of a very complicated regulatory process that has to unfold around a project of this scale.” 

The next Flathead Conservation District 310 permit meeting is on July 13 at 1 p.m. Meetings are open to the public virtually by Zoom and in-person at 133 Interstate Lane, Kalispell.  

Reporter Elsa Ericksen can be reached at 406-758-4459 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.