Flathead Basin Commission present Tribes and Lake County with stewardship award

By B.L. Azure

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and Lake County were presented the Paul Williams Stewardship Award for their work to protect the environmental integrity of Flathead Lake while promoting compatable economic development. From left: Caryn Miske, FBC executive director; Janet Camel, CSKT land use planning director; Mike Kenmille, CSKT councilman; Lake County commissioners Paddy Trusler, Chuck Whitson and Mike Hutchins; Sue Shannon, Lake County planning director; and Clint Whitney, chair FBC board of directors. (B.L. Azure photo)

POLSON — On Monday the Flathead Basin Commission presented the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and Lake County with its stewardship award for the entities’ land use policies and management that help protect Flathead Lake. The FBC is a state chartered group with the mission of protecting the water quality and natural resources of Flathead Lake Basin while promoting compatible economic development.

“The Flathead Basin Commission encourages economic growth in the Flathead Basin that is consistent with the protection of the water quality and the natural resources,” said Clint Whitney, chair of the FBC. “Our job is to help promote good management decisions on how economic development occurs.”

Whitney said the Tribes and Lake County have adopted policies and practice management that promotes sensible growth that takes into account its effects on the environment.

In particular Whitney was referring to the Lake County Density Map and Regulations that were developed by the county with the assistance of the CSKT Land Use Planning Department. They went into effect in late 2005.

For their efforts Lake County and the CSKT were presented with the Paul Williams Stewardship Award by Whitney on behalf of the FBC.

“In recognition of their efforts to work harmoniously and collaboratively to address land use issues with in the boundaries of Lake County, Montana and the Flathead Indian Reservation, to the benefit of all residents of the area, the Flathead Basin Commission presents the 2007 Paul Williams Stewardship Award to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and Lake County,” Whitney said, adding that the Lake County Density Map and Regulations were consistent with the tribal vision of land use.

Lake County Board of Commissioners Chairman Mike Hutchins accepted the award on behalf of the county. He said Lake County has been a progressive leader in the area of land use planning in a number of areas. “This award is deserved,” he said.

FBC Board Chairman Clint Whitney presents CSKT Councilman Mike Kenmille, with the Paul Williams Stewardship Award. Kenmille accepted the award on behalf of the CSKT. Lake County Commissioner Paddy Trusler is in the middle. (B.L. Azure photo)

CSKT Councilman Mike Kenmille accepted the award on behalf of the Tribes. “There is a lot more that needs to be done to make this area better but there have been achievements,” Kenmille said. He added that the Flathead Lake and area resources need vigilant protection and that it is wise to take the proper time to do a good job of protecting the watershed environment.

Commissioner Chuck Whitson said the County along with the Tribes did a good job of educating county residents about the Lake County Density Map and Regulations through a series of public meetings. The turnout at the meetings was good; with people curious about what the LCDMR meant, he said.

“There was a lot of fear at first. People thought it was the dreaded ‘Z’ word (zoning) and that we were going to interfere with their rights as property owners,” Whitson said.

However there was some tweaking to the LCDMR and with the inclusion of the Tribes in the development and public presentations many skeptical minds were changed.

“At the last public meeting held in Polson only one or two people commented on it,” Whitson said. “We, in conjunction with the Tribes, apparently did a good job of getting the word out about what this meant to people because in the end they bought into it. We were glad to see this go forward.”

Whitson said the LCDMR are guides to sensible land use and economic development. They are not chiseled in stone however. “There is room for compromise,” Whitson said. “A one per 20-acre density plan does not mean just one residence per 20 acres. There are variances that could allow for more residents on it.”

The LCDMR, Whitson said, encourages residential and economic development in Lake County cities and towns because of the existing infrastructure and services. It also encourages cluster development in other areas. “It is easier and less expensive to provide available services to new development,” he said.

Kenmille said the nature of Tribes is nature and that it is part of who they are as a people.

“The Tribes have always been protectors of the natural resources and we will continue to be in the future. We raise our kids with that thought in mind so they will protect the environment when they are older.” Kenmille said. “When I look back I see that we were never as confined as we are today. Our home was everywhere but we were put on this reservation and told that this was our home. It’s upsetting to be confined to the reservation but it is our home and we will protect its environment and keep working to protect what we can of our aboriginal environment.”