Bigfork Community Alliance

08/31/2026

Flathead County Commissioners Agenda — Tuesday, Sept 1, 2026

Keeping the community in the loop: the County Commissioners will be taking up several lakeshore construction permits at their 10:00 a.m. session tomorrow, including one right here in Bigfork (see attached agenda).

Permit FLP-26-57 — Eagle Island, LLC
Activity: Install a single mooring buoy
Location: ### Holt Drive, Bigfork (Flathead Lake)

It's a routine, small-scale lakeshore permit — one mooring buoy with chain and a concrete anchor block, placed well off the main shoreline — nothing outside the ordinary permitting process.

We'll keep you in the loop on anything affecting Bigfork, no matter how big or small. See

08/10/2026

Wednesday August 12th at 6pm the Planning Board will be discussing discontinuing allowing the public to designate their time to another person during public comment.

08/06/2026

"To determine whether the Public Trust Doctrine precludes development here, application of a three-part test is necessary. First, are the waters important to the public, and have the public historically and traditionally used these waters for aesthetic, commercial or recreational purposes?

Second, will the proposed permit destroy or seriously impair the public’s historical use?

Third, is the public interest so paramount that it overrides any countervailing interest of the proposed developer?

Bigfork Bay clearly meets these criteria. Accordingly, the bay’s waters are held in trust for us, the public. We, members of the public, have long enjoyed them, and will, hopefully, for years into the future."

Guest opinion: Bigfork Bay meets Public Trust Doctrine criteria Read more in the comments. https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2026/aug/04/guest-opinion-bigfork-bay-meets-public-trust-doctrine-criteria/?utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

08/06/2026

Bigfork community — this is a great opportunity to show up, ask questions, and make your voice heard.

State Representative Tracy Sharp (House District 12) will be holding open office hours:

📅 Friday, August 7, 2026
🕛 12:00–2:00 p.m.
📍 Bigfork Library
186 Bridge St., Bigfork, MT

If there are issues that matter to you, this is your chance to have that conversation directly with your representative.

08/04/2026

UPDATE: BIGFORK BAY MARINA

The developer has submitted a request to withdraw his application. The application remains on the agenda for Monday's meeting, where the Flathead Conservation District will discuss and likely close it.

A withdrawal is not a denial. There is nothing preventing a future application for the same or a similar project at this location.

The developer has also indicated he intends to hold public meetings to address questions and concerns regarding this property. We encourage our community to attend, ask questions, and stay informed.

We will be at Monday's meeting and encourage you to join us. We will continue to monitor this property and any future applications that affect Bigfork. Your engagement matters and we will need it again.

📅 August 10, 2026 | 1:00pm
📍 USDA/Flathead Conservation District Conference Room
133 Interstate Lane, Kalispell, MT 59901
💻 Zoom: flatheadcd.org/fcd-meetings → Join 310 Permit Meeting

07/24/2026

Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee Agenda for Thursday, July 30, 2026 meeting - 4:00 PM at Bethany Lutheran Church, downstairs

07/16/2026

RE: Bigfork Dam
Submitted project disposition schedule

07/13/2026

Flathead Conservation District 310 Permit Meeting - The application has been tabled. We will update soon with more information.