City finalizes new lakeshore committee

Whitefish has once again established a lakeshore protection committee that will review permits for work on Whitefish Lake.

City Council on May 18 approved creating the seven-member board to review applications for lakeshore permits.

Permits are designed to protect Whitefish and Lost Coon lakes. Anyone wanting to work in the lakes, or on land within the mean high water elevation, needs to obtain a permit.

The City-County Lake and Lakeshore Protection Committee, which dealt with Whitefish and Lost Coon lakes, was suspended last summer when Flathead County took control of the planning doughnut area outside city limits. The county recently assumed jurisdiction of areas of Whitefish and Lost Coon lakes outside city limits.

The city annexed the Whitefish lake bed to the low-water mark in 2005 and has planning control of that area.

The committee deals with permits that include installation of docks, landscaping or excavation, and construction of retaining walls or decks.

Residents concerned with the protection of the lake praised council for its decision.

“The lake is by far the community’s most important natural asset,” Charlie Abell said. “We must protect the quality of that water. Some parts of the lakeshore remain undisturbed and what has been done — for the most part — has been controlled for the last 40 years.”

“Whitefish Lake is near and dear to my heart because I was raised on it,” Marcia Sheffels said. “Thank you for supporting and recreating a Whitefish lakeshore protection committee.”

The committee is made up of two members who reside within the city limits, two who are lakefront property owners within the city limits and two must reside outside the city limits and be lakefront property owners. One member of the planning board will also serve on the committee.

Depending on the type of the permit, the committee will review the permit and then forward comments to City Council for action.

Updated guidelines give the planning department the ability to approve certain permits including for floating docks, which are to not exceed 60 feet in length, shore stations, buoys, for burning in the lakeshore protection zone and for buried domestic water lines installed during low water.

In some cases, permits are needed from both the city and county on one project. Because Whitefish Lake below the low water mark is inside city limits, a permit may be issued for a dock that begins on the shoreline in the county and extends out in to the water into the city’s jurisdiction.