Citizens concerned about North Shore access

A group of Bigfork residents showed up at last month's regular Bigfork Parks Advisory Board meeting to express concern about maintaining access to the North Shore of Flathead Lake via a small trail off Holt Drive.

Dave Hadden, who owns property across the street from the trail, told the board that the easement is the only access to the beach on the east side of the Flathead River open year-round. Access to the beach through the federal Waterfowl Production Area is closed from March 1 to July 1 for waterfowl breeding, cutting off any other access between Bigfork and Somers.

Hadden told the board that attempts have been made by one of the neighboring landowners in the past to have the county abandon the property, which he said would be a huge loss.

"We need to hold on to what access we have," he said.

Hadden said he approached the county parks board about the issue a few months ago, and they suggested he bring it before the Bigfork group first.

Serena Keller, who chairs the Bigfork panel, said she would raise the issue at the next county meeting at the start of June.

"We can see how the parks department feels about it and if they feel it's in their jurisdiction," Keller said.

Bigfork Elementary School Principal Jackie Boshka came to the meeting to show support for the access, noting that each year school children use the trail on field trips to get a first-hand view of the North Shore.

"We have kids at our school who have never been on the North Shore," she said. "It's unbelievable."

Hadden also said that the Ravenwood Science Center also brings children down to the beach via the easement as part of its program.

Keller urged Hadden and other to garner as much support as possible for the access and encouraged people to write letters to the parks department.

"It's the squeaky wheel that gets grease," Keller said. "So if we can drum up public awareness, it will help."

Edd Blackler, who came to the meeting to voice his feelings on the access, said support shouldn't be hard to find.

"We have so little access to Flathead Lake," he said. "It would be horrible to lose that."