Citizens for a Better Flathead urges Whitefish to press county on lakeshore enforcement

Cameron Dexter, representing Citizens for a Better Flathead (CBF), told the Whitefish City Council on Nov. 17 that the city should continue its leadership role on water quality and press Flathead County to enforce Lakeshore and Lakeshore Protection Regulations (LLPRs) on Whitefish Lake beyond the city’s jurisdiction.

Dexter said the most recent Whitefish Lake and Lakeshore Protection Committee meeting lacked a quorum and could not vote on two draft letters intended for the county regarding likely LLPR violations. He said CBF has included those drafts and the first eight pages of an administrative appeal file in the council packet and that, within hours of preparing his remarks, the county had denied a scheduled administrative appeal for property abutting 776 Elm Beach Lane. Dexter asked the city and residents to attend a tentative Flathead County Planning Board workshop on Jan. 14 to consider LLPR amendments and marina standards.

CBF’s statement listed repeated concerns about after‑the‑fact permits, investigations that the group called inadequate and failures to require full restoration when shoreline damage occurs. Dexter emphasized that the city’s authority is limited outside municipal boundaries but urged city leaders to signal support, stay informed about ongoing complaints and reinforce the need for uniform enforcement to protect Whitefish Lake for future generations.

The council received the materials and thanked Dexter. No county official was present to respond during the meeting; the issue remains with the county and upcoming county process dates were cited by the speaker.