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Resolution urges consideration of recreation, tourism in Flathead Lake management
Summary
Sen. Matt Regier’s SJ 18 asks water managers to weigh recreation and tourism alongside hydropower, fish and irrigation when setting lake levels. Local stakeholders including the National Organization to Save Flathead Lake and real-estate brokers testified in favor; executive action was deferred to Wednesday.
Senator Matt Regier told the House Natural Resources Committee that Senate Joint Resolution 18 seeks to ensure recreation and tourism are fairly considered alongside hydropower, fish and irrigation when managers set Flathead Lake levels. Regier introduced SJ 18 after summer lows in Flathead Lake limited boat access and affected businesses and homeowners in the Flathead Valley.
Carol James, president and founder of the National Organization to Save Flathead Lake, testified the resolution would help restore predictability for property owners and businesses that rely on summer lake levels. She said the group seeks no special privileges but asks that recreation and tourism be considered “on the same level” as power production and fish populations. Scott Hollinger, a longtime Flathead real-estate broker, described buyer uncertainty and gave an anecdote of an elderly homeowner who injured his hip when low lake levels made ladder access difficult; Hollinger said the resolution would help clarify expectations for residents and businesses.
Committee members asked whether the measure was meant to blame other partners; Regier said SJ 18 is not finger-pointing but aims to ensure tourism is not left out of multi-use water conversations. Questions touched on water rights, downstream impacts and whether similar coordination exists for other Montana lakes. Some members cautioned the resolution could prompt contentious negotiations among water-right holders; Regier said the resolution’s intent is to have recreation heard in future water-management discussions.
No opponents were recorded. The committee closed the SJ 18 hearing and decided to defer executive action on the resolution to Wednesday for further consideration.
