Stormwater committee working on education

By ALEX STRICKLAND/Bigfork Eagle

The Bigfork Stormwater Advisory Committee spent the last few weekends talking to anyone who would listen about the village's stormwater issues, and if more than 100 signatures on a petition is any indication, people heard.

Representatives from the committee manned booths at Paddlefest and the Whitewater Festival in Bigfork on May 17-18 and 23-25, respectively.

There, they spoke with interested parties about the threat posed to Bigfork Bay and Flathead Lake at large from untreated runoff. They also gathered signatures on a petition that was non-committal and non-binding, but just said that a signee expressed interest and support in continuing the process.

Tom Lewis, a member of the committee, said that people from Bigfork, as well as tourists, signed on to the petition.

For people who weren't from here, Lewis said he told them, "Well if you like it here, sign it."

All members agreed that many people were shocked to hear that various harmful nutrients, as well as simple toxins like gasoline and oil from the roads were entering the lake.

Gathering those signatures is an important step in the grant process, Committee Chair Sue Hanson said.

The committee is currently seeking a $625,000 grant from the Treasure State Endowment Program and a $125,000 RRGL grant from the Montana Department of Natural Resources.

The group is keeping copies of their minutes and other information on a Web site at http://www.bigforksteering.org/bigfork-stormwater-advisory.html.