Whitefish City Council votes to contest FWP denial of river-trail permit

The Whitefish City Council voted unanimously at a special meeting to notify Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) that the city "significantly disagree[s]" with FWP’s denial of a Stream Protection Act (124) permit for a proposed Whitefish River boardwalk segment and to pursue whatever avenues FWP provides — including informal talks, binding arbitration or litigation — and to report back to the council.

The decision matters because the denied segment is part of the city’s planned river-trail backbone intended to provide an ADA-accessible, low-traffic corridor through Whitefish. City staff and dozens of residents who spoke during public comment said the project is a transportation and safety priority and that the FWP decision did not adequately weigh community benefits.

City staff explained that FWP concluded the proposed design would adversely affect fish or game habitat and therefore denied the 124 permit. Craig (staff member) told the council that FWP proposed an alternative the city analyzed and found unacceptable: the alternative would not meet ADA standards, would reduce the path to 4 feet in some locations, and would route pedestrians through a parking lot. "So, we don't feel that their proposed alternative, really even comes…