Kalispell council approves Kalispell Golf Association irrigation upgrades, allows well drilling on leased land

The Kalispell City Council on Jan. 21 unanimously approved Resolution 6238, authorizing irrigation system improvements at Buffalo Hill Golf Course and amending lease language to allow the Kalispell Golf Association to pursue a well on the leased property.

City staff explained the golf association's existing irrigation relies on a Stillwater River intake that can become inaccessible during low flows. The motion, moved by Councilor Dowd and seconded by Councilor Fisher, allows the association to proceed with improvements that exceed $75,000 as required by the lease and clarifies Section 9 of the lease to accommodate a well and associated water right application.

Russ Grover, superintendent at Buffalo Hill, told the council the association commissioned a local feasibility study that found drilling a well would not materially harm nearby wells and would improve irrigation reliability and water quality. "This well would mean that now we would fill into a pond. It would give us cleaner irrigation water...it's not potable water," Grover said.

Councilors supported the resolution after a question‑and‑answer period clarified the proposed well would be an irrigation/recreational well not connected to the municipal potable water system and that DNRC (the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation) and permitting processes would be followed. Councilor Hunter noted the change could reduce summer withdrawals from the Stillwater River and said using a well with an upgraded, more efficient system could be an environmental improvement.

The council approved the resolution by unanimous roll call (9-0). City staff and the golf association said the next steps include drilling a test well, conducting yield tests required for state water‑right approval, and implementing irrigation upgrades with efficiency measures such as variable frequency drives.