Our Mission
North Shore Water Alliance’s mission is to advocate for the protection of water quality throughout the Flathead Valley, with emphasis on the areas just north of Flathead Lake.
We aim to educate the public on current and long-term risks to both ground and surface water quality throughout the Flathead region given the ongoing and rapid growth the Flathead is and will be facing.
North Shore Water Alliance advocates for steps and actions that can lead to greater long-term protection of our world class water quality.
We are urging our fellow Flathead Valley residents to hold accountable our local and state government in performing their duties with diligence.
UPDATE: DEQ is extending the public comment period until February 10, 2025, providing the public an additional 30-days to comment on the draft MGWPCS permit. To view the draft permit, Fact Sheet, draft EA, and to learn how to submit a comment visit: https://deq.mt.gov/News/publiccomment-folder/PN-MT-24-14-MTX000307
Call to Action!! Please help us in opposing this groundwater discharge permit. MT DEQ has issued a Preliminary Determination to grant this permit # MTX000307. We now have 30 days (January 10) to give public comment on why we disagree with this determination and to raise concerns with how this will affect our water quality. Once degraded it is very difficult and can take decades to remediate.
Flathead Lake
Lakeside County Water and Sewer District is applying for a groundwater discharge permit through DEQ. There have already been several notices of deficiency and modifications made to address multiple issues with the proposed system consisting of Rapid Infiltration Basins. We have many concerns with how this system will negatively impact Flathead Lake, the areas groundwater, and the many surface waters in the Lower Valley area just north of the lake. This area has very high groundwater that is interconnected with the many surface waters. We feel that this is the not the place for this proposed wastewater system. Read on to learn more about what exactly is being proposed.
DEQ is accepting public comments on the draft MGWPCS permit and the draft EA from Dec. 9, 2024, to Jan. 10, 2025. To view the draft permit, Fact Sheet, draft EA, and to learn how to submit a comment visit: https://deq.mt.gov/News/publiccomment-folder/PN-MT-24-14-MTX000307
In a 2/16/2024 letter to Chris Boe, with Montana DEQ, regarding LCWSD’s pending application for a groundwater discharge permit from DEQ, Water Environmental Technologies (WET) engineer, Brad Bennett, PG Senior Hydrogeologist with WET stated:
“Please note that the fate and transport evaluation has resulted in modification to the proposed project, including the dimensions and location of RI basin areas and volume of water proposed for discharge, which has been reduced from 340,000 GPD to 200,000 GPD. Please let me know if you would like us to update the application submitted via the FACTS website.”
Something about this area forced LCWSD’s engineer to lower the proposed volume of discharge by 140,000 GPD (gallons per day). When Lakeside has stated they eventually want to dispose of 900,000 GPD. How will this site work for the future if it barely works for right now??