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The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission
is reconsidering a year-round protection for the
Whitefish River! Comments due Aug. 8th

If you believe the Whitefish River from the railroad trestle south of Whitefish Lake outlet to the bridge on JP Road
should be protected year-round from jet skis and power boats
and remain a quiet and safe place

for floaters, paddlers, and those using electric motors,

NOW is your chance to have your voice heard.

To be heard, many comments are needed!
Send Comments and ask friends to as well!

Whitefish River from Baker Street Bridge

The state's Fish and Wildlife Commission is reconsidering the City of Whitefish's request to restrict the urban section of Whitefish River year-round to manually and electric powered watercraft from the railroad trestle south of Whitefish Lake outlet to the bridge on JP Road.

If you support a year-around closure allowing only manually and electric powered watercraft on this urban stretch of the Whitefish River, PLEASE MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD AGAIN. CLICK HERE to send comments. Please comment again if you sent comments earlier as this is a new hearing. Tell the Commission that year around closure is needed, not just from July to September.

In drafting your comments, which can be short and simple, and you are welcomed to just cut and paste from selections below. Remember that the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission wants to your input on any of the following:

Is there broad consensus in the community in support of the non-motorized designation? (Include a statement that lets them know why this designation is important to you, your family, and friends. This could be stated as simply:

---We need and desire quiet, non motorized river recreation areas close to town.

---We support family-friendly, friend-friendly, slow and low-impact use areas along the first three miles of the the Whitefish River that allow for relaxed recreational opportunities.

---Non motorized designation for a portion of the Whitefish River affords residents and visitors the benefits of better wildlife viewing and more secure habitat for wildlife using the river.
---Non motorized designation for this portion of the Whitefish River is a valuable compliment to the to the Whitefish Trail system.

Do you feel non motorized protection for this portion of the Whitefish River will increase safety for you and your family? (

This could be stated as simply: ---We support the added non-motorized designation of this portion of the Whitefish River because it will help to reduce wakes that impact or potentially destabilize canoes or paddle board or other non-motorized uses.

---We support the added non-motorized designation of this portion of the Whitefish River because it helps ensure less congestion with higher speed incompatible uses and makes the river near town safer for swimming or tubing, now and in the future as Whitefish grows.)

Do you feel non motorized protection for this portion of the Whitefish River will help protect this river section from erosion and other impacts to this natural resource?

---You may want to describe impacts you have seen to the physical features of this portion of the river from motorized use or other concerns you have.

Background:

The Whitefish River currently has a no wake restriction from the outlet of Whitefish Lake to the JP Bridge. Concerns have been raised that there is little enforcement of this current no wake restriction. Motorized uses such as jet skis can move so quickly between the lake and the river that enforcement is difficult, and public doesn't know how to report conflicts.

After an earlier hearing in April the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission proposed a seasonally limited closure from to manually and electric powered watercraft from the railroad trestle south of Whitefish Lake outlet to the bridge on JP Road from July 5 through September 30. The City of Whitefish has asked that the commission reconsider this decision and put in place the year around closure. The commission agreed to reconsider their decision. This is why there is a new hearing opportunity.

Visit the City of Whitefish web site for additional information.

Currently, Whitefish Lake provides 3,315 acres of unrestricted powerboat use. The Proposed Rule requested by the City of Whitefish sets aside the first three miles of the Whitefish River to "Manually powered and electric motor use only."

The Proposed Rule would:

- Affect only the first three miles of the Whitefish River

- Provide a quiet, safe place for visitors and residents to float or paddle without competing with jet skis or power boats

- Complement the Whitefish trail system

- Reduce erosion potential along the river bank

- Help secure wildlife habitat along the river corridor

So don't miss this new opportunity to comment:
Comments must be received by August 8th. Send to: FWP, Region 1 Office, 490 North Meridian Road, Kalispell, MT 59901; FAX: 257-0349; or email at cjust@mt.gov.

To view the proposed amendment in its entirety, go to the following link: click here

The FW Commission will analyze comments and make a final decision on the petition at their October 16th meeting.

Sincerely,

Citizens for a Better Flathead

Sample Comments

I support year-round closure of the proposed section of the Whitefish River over part year closure for the following reasons:

- It will only affect only the first three miles of the Whitefish River

- Closure will provide a quiet, safe place for visitors and residents to float or paddle without competing with jet skis or power boats and these uses occur and should be protected outside of the part-year closure option.

- Closure complements the Whitefish trail system which receives year-round use.

- Closure will help reduce erosion potential along the river bank, which is a year- round problem.

- Closure will help secure wildlife habitat along the river corridor, which is a year-round concern and issue.

Citizens for a Better Flathead encourages you to make a difference by participating in the decisions that are shaping the future of your community!

Our work and alerts such as this are dependent on the generous support of individuals like you.