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The social and economic well-being of the people of the Flathead depends on the rich diversity of natural resources in the area, from plant and animal diversity to clean water. Since early times, people have benefited from hunting, gathering, farming, logging, fishing, mining and recreation in the watershed. Humans are part of the ecosystem. Human resource use and development can have adverse consequences on the local environment. We are continually learning about ways to become better stewards and live in harmony with the landscape and its inhabitants.
Critical lands are ecologically significant areas that provide clean water and wildlife habitat, as well as recreational opportunities. Lands critical to maintaining water quality in Flathead Lake, such as vegetated streams and river banks, floodplains and wetlands, often serve as the "kidneys of the lake." When left in a natural state, these areas provide a buffer zone that filters out nutrients and other pollutants before they reach the water. Examples of critical lands include:
Critical Land Type | Description | Example | | Wetlands | Wetlands are inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater for most or part of the year. They filter nutrients, sediments and pollutants and help maintain clean water. Wetlands also provide habitat and food for fish and wildlife. | Some examples of wetlands include freshwater wetlands, sloughs (old river channels), springs, swamps, prairie potholes, marshes, bogs, and fens. | | | | Riparian corridors | A riparian corridor is a unique plant community near a natural body of water such as a stream, river, or lake. Vegetation along rivers helps absorb nutrients, sediments and pollutants, and provide habitat for fish and wildlife. It can also help prevent bank erosion. Rivers provide irrigation and potable water, hydropower, fisheries, transportation and recreation. | Cottonwood trees are indicators of healthy riparian areas. Other plant associated with riparian areas include willows, dogwood, alder, sedges, forbs, cattails, and more. 70% of migratory bird species use riparian habitat during migration. | | | | Floodplains and shallow aquifers | Floodplains store water and slow water during floods which helps prevent damaging floods. They also filter nutrients which helps keep water in rivers clean. Floodplains are among the most biologically diverse wildlife habitats. Floodplains have rich agricultural soils. The shallow alluvial aquifer found north of Kalispell and west of the Flathead River is a series of complex underground channels connected to the river. | Many rivers in valleys have floodplains associated with them. A shallow alluvial aquifer lies below the valley between Columbia Falls and Kalispell, and between the Whitefish and Flathead Rivers. Water flows between the Flathead River and the shallow aquifer. The aquifer plays an important role in keeping the river and Flathead Lake clean. | | | | Cultural/Historical Areas | Cultural and historical areas provide important economic resources, and are an important part of our landscape and heritage. Many of these areas provide wildlife habitat and important recreational opportunities. | Some examples of critical cultural and historical areas include farmland, open space, historic and archaeological sites, trails, parklands, scenic views, water access, and recreational areas. | | |
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We depend on these critical lands for clean water, wildlife habitat, and recreation. Learn more about wetlands, riparian corridors and floodplains (page still under construction).
Riparian corridors, floodplains, wetlands, and shallow groundwater areas provide many benefits: Critical lands: - Filter nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and other pollutants such as pesticides that might otherwise enter a river or lake
| - Provide soil stability that can help prevent erosion.
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Critical lands: - Slow water flow, which can prevent flooding and bank erosion.
| - Store water during floods and help replenish groundwater aquifers and wells.
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Critical lands: - Provide important habitat and food for fish and wildlife, including waterfowl, bald eagles, deer, river otter, and fish.
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Critical lands: - Frequently have high scenic qualities and provide opportunities for hunting, fishing, boating and bird watching.
| - River corridors are also culturally and socially significant to native people who traditionally camped, hunted and fished along the rivers and lakes.
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Conserving critical lands will help keep our waters clean and our landscape beautiful. To find out more about the criteria used to identify critical areas check the list developed by Critical Lands Project participants. The Critical Lands Project is a collaborative effort led by the Flathead Lakers and involving representatives from federal, state, tribal and local agencies and organizations to identify, protect and restore lands critical to the quality of Flathead Lake and its tributaries.
Some examples of threats to critical lands include bank erosion and collapse, pollution, and loss of habitat and farmland due to incompatible development, introduction of exotic plants and animals, and removal of vegetation near streams, rivers and wetlands.
The lands identified as critical provide some of the best remaining wildlife habitat along the Flathead River north of Flathead Lake. These lands include existing riparian vegetation along the Flathead River, wetlands and sloughs, and the shallow alluvial aquifer (also known as the Evergreen Aquifer, this is the shallow groundwater connected to the Flathead River between Columbia Falls and Kalispell). The Critical Lands Status Report summarizes critical lands in the North Flathead Valley (see page 9 in the report to read about specific areas).  Figure 1. Map of the Northern Flathead Valley. Larger map. These lands support nesting habitat for bald eagles, osprey, Canada geese, waterfowl, upland game birds, great blue herons and double-crested cormorants. Seventy percent of migratory bird species use riparian habitat during migration. The Flathead River corridor also provides some of the best habitat in Montana for white-tailed deer, beaver, river otter, muskrats, and mink. The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks has identified several wetlands and sloughs along the Flathead River with good riparian cover where bull and westslope cutthroat trout winter.
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