Protecting our waterways

On Monday, Dec. 4, the Whitefish City Council approved a proposal by councilor John Muhlfeld to increase setbacks to 75 feet on Whitefish waterways.

This is a tremendous step toward protecting our waterways and ensuring that, as we're floating down the river for summers to come, we will see more grassy banks and fewer overgrown houses.

No one will ever be kept from building on their lot (smaller lots may have smaller setbacks), and the environmental benefits will be significant — this measure will help prevent increased erosion, and it will reduce already-high concentrations of silt, heavy metals, and PCBs (among many other toxins) that are caused by riverbank over-building.

Councilors know that residents are counting on them to protect the spirit and beauty of the land that has drawn all of us here, and on Monday, they made another move toward intelligent, careful growth.

Let's stand by our councilors and let them know that we support this measure and their efforts. On Dec. 21, the Whitefish City-County Planning Board will conduct a public hearing on the Critical Lands Ordinance, and on Jan. 2, the city council will have a first reading and a public hearing on the Critical Lands Ordinance.

We can show our support for this measure — and make a statement about the importance of protecting our lands — by attending these meetings, by calling our councilors and by saying "thank you" when something great happens.

This is something great. Thank you.

Linda Woods Young

Whitefish