Loss of funding to Flathead Basin Commission disappointing

I am very disappointed that Montana has cut funding to the Flathead Basin Commission. That commission has generated more funds and done more good than most state agencies, so we should probably not be surprised that it is easy to dismantle.

My memory may not be completely accurate, but as I recall, the Basin Commission was the brainchild of a state legislator named Jean Turnage, who later became a Supreme Court Justice. The purpose of the FBC was to monitor and protect water quality in the Flathead Basin. Included were the Park Superintendant, Forest Service Supervisor, private companies and citizens appointed to by the governor and agencies like the Confederated Tribes and others I do not recall.

There was hardly any budget. When I was appointed as a citizen member, the commission was supervised by a member of the governor’s staff who had many other duties and was not easy to contact.

Over the years, I served on the commission, including three as chairman, with the support of Govs. Schwinden, Stephens and Racicot and established working relationships among the members, including the Canadian Province of British Columbia as well as the biological station on Flathead Lake.

Finally, the FBC was given an executive director, Mark Holston, and an office was opened up in Kalispell.

The FBC negotiated with British Columbia for years and an agreement was finally reached with Gov. Schweitzer, thanks to the FBC and long-time member Rich Moy.

The Basin Commission has aided the Biological Station and been a major voice in protecting local water quality, including mobilizing Montana to prevent the incursion of mussels in our lakes.

It is not really surprising that DNRC might throw the FBC under the bus. After all, the FBC has sometimes been critical of DNRC policies. Isn’t that what monitoring means? Watching bureaucrats and pointing out when they go astray?

Good thing is that even without funding, the FBC will still have a powerful voice. I hope the governor and commission members use their voice and continue to be a positive force for water quality in the Flathead Basin.

Larry Wilson’s North Fork Views appears weekly in the Hungry Horse News.