 Treasure of the Treasure State
Keynote Address by State Senator Mike Taylor (R-Proctor)
27 June 1999 Lakers Annual Meeting
I would like to thank Barry and the Flathead Lakers for inviting me here this evening to be the keynote speaker. This is a special evening -- this year is the 100th anniversary of the Flathead Lake Biological Station.
I can still remember the first time I saw Flathead Lake in the early 1950s. My grandparents brought me with them to visit my great aunt at her East Shore cherry orchard. I was raised near Lewistown, Montana, and the biggest body of water I had ever seen was Ackey Lake, an irrigation lake of about 100 acres when totally full.
The immense size of Flathead Lake, the clean, clear water, and the taste of those cherries still lives within me. And later, in 1981, my wife and I decided to move back to Montana. After visiting my aunt and uncle on Finely Point, Vera and Basil Ashcraft, my wife, Janna, decided that this was the place for her to live in Montana.
Now that makes sense, because she was from Minnesota. In fact, I had to go to Denver for work, and she just went out and made a down payment on a small ranch in Proctor while I was gone. That shows you who controls the check book in this family! Later we moved to the lake where we now live in the Rollins area.
Years ago, Montanans knew they had a treasure in the Flathead Basin, and they guarded that secret. We've all heard the story about how beautiful it is in the summer, but you wouldn't want to live here because it's 40 below in the winter with ten feet of snow. In the late 1950s and early 1960s you could still buy land for $100 a foot on the lake. And many Montanans had summer cabins on the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. Our lake, thanks to the Biological Station and the Flathead Lakers, still remains one of the highest quality lakes in the world.
This lake and the Flathead Basin give quality of life to many people, wildlife, and native vegetation. It is something we must protect forever. There are 22 species of fish, bears, eagles and falcons, and many more with vegetation, that require our clean water to survive.
One of our more colorful characters that enjoys the lake is my friend, Delbert Hawkins. His family homesteaded this area in the early 1880s. Delbert is known for many things; one of them is that his land is a sanctuary for Canadian geese, and he allows no hunting. Each spring you can see 300 or more babies.
Delbert owns thousands of acres in the Dayton, Proctor and Lake Mary Ronan area, and he is working with the Tribes, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and the state Department of Environmental Quality to restore Dayton Creek, the largest direct tributary to the lake after the Flathead and Swan Rivers.
My favorite Delbert story occurred several years ago while we were water skiing. Delbert was standing on the dock observing us ski. After everyone finished, we asked Delbert if he'd like to give it a go. He didn't think it looked too hard, and although he didn't have any swimming trunks with him, he decided he could ski in his cowboy hat, shirt, and jeans! He did remove his cowboy boots. He didn't want to get wet, so he asked to be pulled from and returned to the dock -- not easy for even an experienced skier. But Delbert had no problem.
So we started out toward Wild Horse Island. Unfortunately, on the way back toward the dock, Delbert got tired and dropped the pull rope. After we made the turn to pick him up, all I could see was his hat floating, and Delbert holding on to the skis for dear life. As he spit out water, he was complaining that I took him too far out. It was then that I learned that he couldn't swim!
It's that kind of drive and determination that we all need to preserve our resources.
During the last legislative sesion, Speaker John Mercer, Senator Bob Keenan and I worked together to secure $50,000 per year for the next two years, to help protect our treasure.
The money is to be used by the Flathead Lake Biological Station at Yellow Bay to monitor water quality in the Flathead Basin. We must find a permanent source of funding so that we all will be assured water studies will continue for the next hundred years. It is my belief that this funding should be tied to the University System through federal and state grants.
During the past legislative session, we also passed a bill that gives a permanent flow of money, from the Coal Tax Trust, to the University System for research.
One hundred years from now I want my great-grandchildren and your's to be able to see 40 feet deep in the clean fall water of Flathead Lake; then, as now. How are we going to accomplish that?
First, I pledge to you that during the next legislative session, I will work to secure a permanent source of funding to monitor water quality, as long as the private citizens, cities, the Tribes, and towns contribute their fair share.
Secondly, we must also continue to involve all people, industry, real estate, tourism, forestry, mining, and agriculture to do their part in preserving clean water. As all of us know, the economy of the Flathead Basin is tied to clean water. People have been attracted to our pristine environment for fishing, hunting, water sports, golf, and scenic values. The population growth presents a threat to maintaining that pristine environment. However, now is the time to develop a reasonable, balanced growth plan.
Third, we must continue to use scientifically sound information, like that provided by the Yellow Bay station, which led to the first phosphate ban in Montana, and an award-winning waste water treatment plant for the city of Kalispell, among others.
Fourth, more people who live on and near the water must be informed of good, sound, environmental practices such as buffer zones, new and improved septic systems, and correct use of fertilizer, herbicides, and pesticides. Janna and I have placed our lake property in a conservation easement program which assures that the property will remain as it is forever. And our children must be continuously educated about the importance of clean water and a balanced approach to land use.
Lastly, we must strengthen our relationship and dialogue with Canadians and our federal representatives in order to ensure that their policies do not threaten our clean water and air. British Columbia is once again considering coal mining in the North Fork. The research conducted by the Biological Station will be a valuable tool during negotiations with Canada.
God's earth is wonderful and nature heals itself, given time. But due to our growing population and demands on our land, it will become more critical that each person does his or her part in helping our water and environment stay sound for future generations. Groups such as yours, with advice, energy and insight, will help all of us meet these goals and preserve the treasure of the Treasure State.
My commitment to you, is to do my small part to maintain the quality of life and clean water Montanans grew up with. Here's to you: a toast, with a glass of clean Flathead water.
State Senator Mike Taylor can be reached at PO Box 152, Proctor, MT 59929, 406-849-5281.
Top of page.
|
