IN THIS ISSUE…

Septic Leachate Report Update……… 1

Welcome 2012 Summer Interns……… 2

Wetland Trails to Open in 2012………..3

Whitefish Wine Auction July 26-27….. 4

Membership………………...…………… 5

Become a Member……………………… 6

Quarterly Newsletter of the Whitefish Lake Institute Spring 2012

LakeFront

communicating the study results to the Whitefish Planning Board, City Council, and the general pub-lic. A work session between WLI and the Whitefish City Council highlighted potential measures that could be implemented to mitigate the effects of septic leachate pollution should the City Council decide to take action on the issue. WLI recommends that an ad-hoc committee be formed to review alternatives and draft a manage-ment plan. The management plan would then be submitted to the Planning Board for review and their recommendations would be forwarded to City Council. WLI feels that a multiple layer review process will provide the needed time for commu-nity input on this important issue. To review the full report and multiple map prod-ucts, go to our website www.whitefishlake.org and click the downloads button on the home page.

Septic Leachate Report Update Since the March release of the WLI report: Inves-tigation of Septic Leachate to the Shoreline Area of Whitefish Lake, Montana, WLI staff has spent time

One of the many map products in the report. This map shows the septic leachate risk

potential along the shoreline of Whitefish Lake

LakeFront 2

Whitefish Lake Institute 635 Denver Street

Whitefish, MT 59937

Voice: 406.862.4327 Fax: 406.862.0686

info@whitefishlake.org www.whitefishlake.org

Founded in 2005

The Whitefish Lake Institute is committed to acquiring scientific research

and engaging the local citizenry to protect and improve the Whitefish area lake resources of

today, while providing a collective vision for tomorrow.

Board of Directors Greg Lane, President Karen Reeves, Vice President Charlie Abell, Secretary/Treasurer Frank Sweeney, City Council Representative Susan Fletcher Greg Gunderson John Muhlfeld Sharon Morrison Nancy Svennungsen Dan Weinberg

Science Advisory Committee

Karin Hilding Tony Nelson Dick Solberg Brian Sugden John Wachsmuth

Citizens Advisory Committee

Katie Callahan Cindy LaChance Sue Moll Linda Sawtelle Danielle Sutton Dan Vogel

Staff Mike Koopal Executive Director Lori Curtis Science & Education Director Josh Gubits Environmental Scientist Chris Ruffatto Associate Environmental Scientist

LakeFront is published quarterly by the Whitefish Lake Institute.

Mike Koopal, Editor

printed on recycled paper

logo design by Carbery Creative

Cover Photo: Whitefish Lake sunset

(courtesy: gravityshots.com)

Carl Talsma and Meagan Powell are WLI’s 2012 summer in-terns Carl was born in Whitefish in 1993. He graduated from White-fish High School in the spring of 2011. During his time at WHS Carl played baseball for the Glacier Twins, ski raced with the Glacier Nordic Ski Team, and played golf. Carl also participated in Chris Ruffatto’s project FREEFLOW which performs water quality testing on Haskill Creek. Carl recently completed his freshman year of college at Cornell University where he plans on majoring in environmental engineering. Meagan is a 2009 graduate of Whitefish High School. She has just completed her first year at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah after graduating from North Idaho College in 2011 with an Associates Degree in English. Meagan was attracted to West-minster initially for their English program. However, once there she was drawn to their exceptional environmental studies pro-gram. As of now, she is planning to finish school next year with a Bachelors degree in Environmental Studies, and looking at the possibility of several different research programs abroad. Meagan has lived in the Flathead all her life. She kept busy with athletics, dance, and piano in high school, and continued to play soccer in college for both the North Idaho Cardinals as well as the Westminster Griffins the past three years. She also plays with the Mudpuppies, a local women’s hockey team, and is an avid skier. During the summer she spends her free time dancing, running races, kayaking, and just playing on the water. WLI interns assist in field data collection. During the process, they learn about watershed processes and lake dynamics. They also get a chance to learn about the operations of a small non-profit corporation. To read about the experiences of past interns, visit our website www.whitefishlake.org and click the Programs button, and then Education & Outreach.

Welcome 2012 Summer Interns

2012 Summer Interns Carl Talsma and Meagan Powell

LakeFront 3

Wetland Trails to Open in 2012 ~A Trail for Everyone~

We are excited to let you know that we’ll be opening our Interpretive Nature Trail in the fall of this year. In 2009, the Whitefish Lake Institute (WLI) was gifted a 28.82 acre parcel by the Averill family as part of the Viking Creek Devel-opment proposal. Known as the Averill’s Viking Creek Wetland Preserve, the land is now owned and managed by WLI. We have been busy rais-ing funds and engaging contractors to complete construction of the trail through the wetland. Our goal in developing this trail for the public is to share its natural and cultural history, as well as the beauty of the area, and to offer opportuni-ties to learn about the wildlife with which we share it. The project is also an excellent exam-ple of how citizens can work together with devel-opers to protect the health of the lake and its wa-tershed, to provide open space in the wildland/urban interface, and to allow for growth that fuels our economy. The entire trail will be wheelchair accessible. The wetland was created when ancient Whitefish Lake inundated the area, depositing lacustrine sedi-ments. The lacustrine sediments served to form a shallow perched water table. Because water cannot in-filtrate through the clay sediment, an upland/wetland mosaic formed on top, with regionally unique flora and fauna. Historically, the area was used for agriculture through haying, some stream channelization, and cattle grazing and logging. Viking Creek, one of the tributaries to Whitefish Lake, runs through the wetland. The trail crosses the creek over three small wooden bridges. An informative kiosk will be erected at the main trailhead/trail parking area so that visitors of all ages will have opportunities to access the information. Supporting kiosks will be placed at two secondary trail-heads, one at Crestwood Park, the other connecting to the Wisconsin Avenue section of the Fish Trails bike and pedestrian path. A series of interpretive signs along the trail will perform multiple functions, such as creating and encouraging wetland learning experiences involving science, natural and cultural history, and providing information and direction for people to find their way around the wetland.

The project enjoys support from the Cinnabar Foundation; City of Whitefish; Flathead Community of Resource Educators; Flathead Valley Community Col-lege; Montana Department of Environmental Quality; Montana Department of Resources & Conservation; Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks; Montana Watershed Coordination Council; National Parks Conservation Association; Whitefish Chamber of Commerce; White-fish Convention & Visitors Bureau; Whitefish Legacy Partners; Whitefish Mountain Resort; local school dis-tricts, HOA’s, businesses, and private individuals. Join us Saturday June 23rd for our second wetland work day as we prepare the area for the public open-ing. Meet at the trailhead on Viking Drive at 10am and bring your work gloves. Lunch will be provided. We will announce the trail opening date later this year.

A completed trail segment in the wetlands

Case Koopal and WLI board member Susan Fletcher during the May wetland clean-up day.

LakeFront 4

SAVE THE DATE for Montana’s Premier Wine Event to support the Whitefish Lake Institute

July 26-27, 2012 www.whitefishwineauction.org

It’s Almost Time for the Third Annual Whitefish Wine Auction – July 26 & 27! Like summer, the Third Annual Whitefish Wine Auction is right around the corner! Join us at the Lodge at Whitefish Lake for one of Whitefish’s most enjoyable and important fundraising events. The two-day wine experience begins Thursday afternoon at 4:00 pm in the Lakeside Tent for wine-tasting and hors d’oeurves, and the only opportunity during the two-day event to purchase wines on-site. Wine Guy Dan Vogel will be on hand for short lakeside special tastings where he will share with guests his wine knowledge and some of his favorite wines. Enhance your tasting skills while enjoy-ing the aromas, flavors, and characteristics that make great wine. Enjoy music by the talented cellist Jesse Ahmann, and enter the raffle for a special selection of Thursday-only raffle items. Don’t miss this spectacular evening! Thursday attendees will receive a commemorative wine glass. Friday night festivities begin with a social hour at 6:00 pm with wines hosted by our Featured Wine Sponsor, Foley Family Wines, and bidding on a wonderful array of Silent Auction and Raffle items. A four-course meal—each course paired with wines from our featured winery—will be prepared by the creative chefs at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake. Returning by popular demand, internet radio personality Ross Strauser of bigvalleyradio.com will emcee the event. Our Live Auction will again be brought to life by entertaining auctioneer Marc Vessar. Enjoy opportunities to bid on specialty wine lots, unique adventures, art and specialty items. Join your friends and neighbors for what has earned recognition as the premier wine event in Montana.

Proceeds from the 2012 wine auction will assist the Whitefish Lake Institute (WLI) in fulfilling its mission through: Scientific Data Collection on Whitefish Lake and its tributaries which provides re-source managers with important information used in their decision making process; Community Stewardship of Whitefish water re-sources; Ongoing Development of the Interpretive Nature Trail through the Averill’s Viking Creek Wetland Preserve, which is owned and managed by the Whitefish Lake Institute (the trail will be open to the public later this year!); and Educational Programs for school children and adults. Join in the fun and support the community work of the Whitefish Lake Institute by attending this excellent and entertaining annual fundraising event. We kept ticket prices the same as last year!

Currently, the Friday evening event is more than half sold out, we recommend reserving your space early. Prices are:

Thursday 7/26 Only $30 per person Friday 7/27 Only $75 per person or $500 Private Table for 8 Both Nights $85 per person or $600 for all Thursday and Friday events with private table for 8 for Friday

Tickets can be purchased online at www.whitefishwineauction.org or by calling 406.862.4327, or at:

The Lodge at Whitefish Lake Crush Wine Bar Whitefish Chamber of Commerce Whitefish Lake Institute

An excited raffle item winner last year

Wine specialty packages, VIP winery tours and unique auction lots can be

bid on during the live auction

LakeFront 5

Whitefish Lake Institute Membership Research Guarantor ($1,000 and above) Richard & Carol Atkinson - Whitefish, MT Jim & Jo-Ann Armstrong - Paradise Valley, AZ Rick & Alicia Blake - Whitefish, MT John & Anne Collins - Whitefish, MT Ila Dousman Fund - Whitefish, MT Greg Fletcher- Calgary, Canada Susan Fletcher - Whitefish, MT Bill Foley - Whitefish, MT Bill & Ann Jones - Whitefish, MT InvesTech Research, Jim & Lisa Stack - Whitefish, MT LaChance Builders, Inc., Tom LaChance - Whitefish, MT Greg Lane - Whitefish, MT Tom & Teresa Quinn - Whitefish, MT Plum Creek- Columbia Falls, MT Joseph & Beverly Raudabaugh - Lake Forest, IL River Design Group - Whitefish, MT Mike & Marie Shaw - Whitefish, MT Scott & Cindy Schmid - Portland, OR Don & Ruth Taylor Bill & Dori Walton -Jacksonville, FL Dan Weinberg - Whitefish, MT Steve & Ardy Whisler - Whitefish, MT

Lake Visionary ($500) Dick & Sandra Boyce - Portola Valley, CA Mark & Connie Cowett - Bozeman, MT Barbara Greene - Calgary, AB Charles & Teresa Grenier - Whitefish, MT Lion Mountain Homeowners Association, - Whitefish, MT Lion Mountain, Inc., Tim Grattan - Whitefish, MT Ched & Rebecca Lyman - Whitefish, MT Mark Mance & Katherine Callahan - Whitefish, MT Soroptimists International of Whitefish,- Whitefish, MT Peter & Christine Stanley - Whitefish, MT Third Steet Market, Ric and Dawn Blair - Whitefish, MT Bill & Dori Walton -Jacksonville, FL Whitefish Credit Union, Jim Kenyon - Whitefish, MT

Lake Benefactor ($250) Dan Averill - Bigfork, MT Jim Berry - Kalispell, MT Nick & Karen Chickering - Whitefish, MT Colla Enterprises, Jim Colla - Whitefish, MT Jack & Florence Fletcher - Whitefish, MT Morrison & Frampton, Sean Frampton - Whitefish, MT Les and Kay Hardy - Whitefish, MT Gene Hedman - Whitefish, MT JoAnna Hoefle - Billings, MT Carl Hulick - Whitefish, MT Harold & Marie Lockhart - Whitefish, MT David McMullin & Jennifer Jones - Woodside, CA Joseph & Cora Belle Montalban - Whitefish, MT Marla Shaw - Dallas, TX Dick & Jane Solberg - Whitefish, MT Nancy & Mark Svennungsen - Whitefish, MT Patricia Serrurier- Bend, OR Watershed Consulting, LLC, Marnie Criley - Missoula, MT Ben & Roberta Whitten - Whitefish, MT

Lake Leader ($100) Charlie & Susan Abell - Whitefish, MT Koel and Lazette Abell- Portland, OR Tarn & Marybeth Abell - Colorado Springs, CO Peter & Cheri Aronsson - Whitefish, MT Sharlot Battin - Whitefish, MT Bay Point Country Homes, Robert Bennett - Whitefish, MT Cameron Blake & Alexander Gray - Whitefish, MT Brad & Ann Bulkley - Whitefish, MT Karen Burke & Donald Feldman - Whitefish, MT Luther & Dorothy Campbell - Whitefish, MT Doug Chadwick & Karen Reeves - Whitefish, MT Steve & Doreen Christian - Whitefish, MT Don & Sally Clark - Whitefish, MT Mitchell and Lanette Cuffe- Columbia Falls, MT Walt & Lori Curtis - Whitefish, MT Will Eckert - Las Vegas, NV Edwin & Maura Fields - Whitefish, MT First Interstate Bank,-Whitefish, MT Todd & Susan Flynn - Oro Valley, AZ Friends of Blanchard Lake- Whitefish, MT Five Star Rentals & Property Management, Jill Zignego- Whitefish, MT Forestoration, Inc., Greg Gunderson - Whitefish, MT OTB Designworks, LLC, Chuck Gailey - Whitefish, MT Getter Properties, William Getter - Sheridan, WY Josh Gubits- Whitefish, MT Kerry Gubits- Littleton, CO

Dewey & Sandra Hartman - Whitefish, MT Ron Hauf - Whitefish, MT Brent and Karen Haverstock- Whitefish, MT Bob & Cindy James - Great Falls, MT Nicole James- Whitefish, MT Mike & Barb Jenson - Whitefish, MT Carol Keim - Whitefish, MT Jim & Marion Kibbe - Whitefish, MT John & Maureen King - Whitefish, MT Murray Knechtel - Calgary, Alberta Mike & Mae Koopal - Columbia Falls, MT Jack Koopal - Johnston, IA Nancy Krause & Dan Handlin - Marion, MT Sue & Joe Malletta - Whitefish, MT David McDermid- Calgary, AB Greg & Mary Anne Moffatt - Encinitas, CA Sharon Morrison - Whitefish, MT Nelson Hardware, Rick & Marilyn Nelson - Whitefish, MT Whitefish Lake Restaurant, Doug Reed - Whitefish, MT Nir & Cherie Regev - Wildwood, MO Michael & Dot Ricker - Whitefish, MT Bill & Linda Sawtelle - Whitefish, MT Brad & Susan Seaman - Kalispell, MT Chuck Stearns- Whitefish, MT John and Nancy Streibich- Whitefish, MT JCCS, P.C., John Stevens - Whitefish, MT Jean Anne Swope & James Mechem - Whitefish, MT The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, Brian Averill - Whitefish, MT David & Jeannine Trousdale - Whitefish, MT Pat & Deborah Turski - Madison, WI Ed & Susan Walters - Albuquerque, NM Whitefish Lake Golf Club, - Whitefish, MT Nancy Woodruff - Whitefish, MT Kari Zirkle - Los Angeles, CA

Lake Sponsor ($40) At Your Service Property Mgmt - Whitefish, MT Mary & Dave Armstrong - Whitefish, MT Richard & Shirley Baker - Manhattan, KS Teri Balaska - Whitefish, MT Paul and Colleen Bell- Whitefish, MT Doug Betters & Jennifer Prendergast - Whitefish, MT Joe Brenneman & Nancy Pensa - Kalispell, MT Birch Hill Homes- Whitefish, MT Birch Hills Homes Community Park Assn. - Whitefish, MT Bill & Judith Bruzek - Whitefish, MT William & Margaret Burg - Whitefish, MT Ben & Doreen Cavin - Whitefish, MT Kim Corette- Whitefish, MT Dave & Kelley Evans - Red Lodge, MT Anne Flannagan - Austin, TX Bob & Kate Fletcher - Portland, OR Mayre Flowers - Kalispell, MT Doug & Ann Follett - Whitefish, MT Rob and Ansley Ford- Somers, MT Friends of Wisconsin Avenue Wetlands- Whitefish, MT Peter Graziano - Whitefish, MT Bill & Judy Halama - Whitefish, MT Giselle Harring - Whitefish, MT Rollin & Carole Harwood - Whitefish, MT Robbie & Mary Holman - Whitefish, MT Dennis & Frankie Johnson - San Antonio, TX John & Laverne Kavanagh - Whitefish, MT Leo Keane - Whitefish, MT Kintla Copy & Creative, Kelly Beatty - Whitefish, MT Betsy & Dan Kohnstamm - Kalispell, MT Sue & Steve Krider - Norwalk, IA Marianne Madler - Whitefish, MT Larry & Barb Magone - Whitefish, MT Curt & Janet McIntyre - Whitefish, MT Tom & Donna Menard - Whitefish, MT Jan & Pete Metzmaker - Whitefish, MT John & Janice Moore - Whitefish, MT Rebecca Norton - Whitefish, MT Al & Shirley Ronseth - Whitefish, MT Karl & Elaine Roosa - Deer Lodge, MT Chris Ruffatto - Columbia Falls, MT Cami & Eric Sawtelle - Whitefish, MT Mike & Timmie Smart - Helena, MT Mike & Bonnie Streeter - Whitefish, MT John Steitz and Carol Treadwell-Steitz- Whitefish, MT SunCrest Homeowners, - Whitefish, MT Brith Sutherland - Kalispell, MT Steve Thompson - Whitefish, MT Tony & Kim Vasquez - Whitefish, MT Paul & Colleen Verdon - Colfax, WI

Sign Me Up! Please enroll my membership in the Whitefish Lake Institute.

□ My check is enclosed

Please check your Annual Membership category:

□ Visa □ Mastercard □ Research Guarantor $1,000+

□ Lake Visionary $500

Account #: ________________________________________ □ Lake Benefactor $250

□ Lake Leader $100

Expires:____________Signature_______________________ □ Lake Sponsor $40

Special Giving

Name____________________________________________ □ Endowment Fund ($500 +)

□ Frank Morrison, Jr. Scholarship Fund Address__________________________________________

Your Contribution is 100% tax-deductible.

City____________________State____________Zip_______ 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation

Whitefish Lake Institute • 635 Denver Street • Whitefish, MT 59937

Visit us at www.whitefishlake.org

635 Denver Street Whitefish, MT 59937

LakeFront 6