Preserving access: Public lake access on Holt Drive secured with new land survey

Protecting public access to Flathead Lake by Holt Drive in Bigfork is officially underway.

Dave Hadden, a member of the Bigfork Park Advisory Committee, received $2,000 from the Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork last week to pay for a survey of a 30-foot wide public right-of-way access off of Holt Drive near Eagle Bend Golf Club.

Hadden became concerned about the public access to Flathead Lake after a landowner near the access road put up “No Trespassing” signs near the access. The access has long been a public right of way, and the new survey will help establish the public access points. The landowner also put up electronic surveillance cameras that Hadden said are fake.

There are five private properties to the east of the public U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service property, according to Flathead County planner Bailey Minnick. The landowners are Flathead Properties LLC, which owns two parcels. Sarah Dugan, Jolene Dugan and Margaret Matter/Elsbeth Suter Trust each own one parcel, according to Minnick.

These property owners have filed for a floodplain development permit for a shallow pond. The pond would be 120-feet by 160-feet at its widest point and 20-feet by 30-feet at its narrowest, she said. The permit is on hold, pending review by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Minnick said.

Flathead County Public Works Director Dave Prunty said the Holt Drive access is between private property and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s waterfowl protection area. The 30-foot-wide path extends to Flathead Lake and is popular in the summer, with vehicles often parked along Holt Drive. The access is not clearly marked. “You’ve got to know where you’re at,” Prunty said. “The public has a right to go on that easement.”

Hadden would also like to see a parking area established closer to the historic right-of-way access. There is an open area with limited parking east of the waterfowl protection area. That open area is where a landowner recently blocked access to “Dockstader Island” with a rock and cable gate, Hadden said.

The public may legally park in the county’s right-of-way, which is 30 feet from the centerline of the road, Prunty said. He noted that the public can park a vehicle for up to 48 hours.

Hadden said he is concerned about public safety on the tight corner of Holt Drive where the waterfowl access is located. He notes that locals and visitors access the lake to cross country ski, snowshoe, ice skate or walk to view wildlife at the mouth of the Flathead River.

Soptelean can be reached at reporter@bigforkeagle.com.