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Kalispell Growth Plan Comment from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region One 490 North Meridian Road Kalispell, MT 59901 (406) 752-5501 REF # AS01-26 March 16, 2026 Kalispell City Planning Department 201 1st Avenue East Kalispell, MT 59901 RE: City of Kalispell Growth Policy Plan-It 2035 Dear Kalispell City Planning Department, Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on Kalispell’s Growth Policy Plan This planning effort was undertaken in response to Senate Bill 382 and the creation of the Montana Land Use Planning Act (MLUPA). Under the MLUPA, ten cities across the state, including Kalispell, are required to adopt a new land use plan to replace existing growth policies and update local zoning and subdivision regulations. Generally, MLUPA front loads the planning associated with land use and growth to allow for streamlined administrative review of site-specific development applications. As part of their planning process, the City of Kalispell reached out to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) in January of 2025, to request our feedback on wildlife and fisheries resources within the growth policy area. The Flathead Valley is renowned for its wildlife, fisheries, and pristine water quality, attributes that are valued by its citizens, and are a significant draw to visitors and new residents alike. Mitigating loss of these valued resources hinges upon protecting wildlife habitat and movement corridors, as well as wetlands and their associated vegetated buffers. Previous city planning efforts correctly identified wildlife movement areas along river corridors and the importance of wetlands and their buffers as important and sensitive natural resources in need of protection. FWP supports planning efforts that focus on strengthening protections for wildlife travel corridors, wetlands and wetland buffers. These areas are vital for maintaining wildlife movement, wetland function, and preservation of water quality as the valley develops. To protect these important natural resources, FWP recommends the following wetland buffers be incorporated as required conditions for development in the Growth Policy: Rivers: A minimum of 250 feet of vegetated buffer plus 50 additional feet of building setback. Total building setback equals at least 300 feet from each side of a river. Perennial Streams: A minimum of 150 feet of vegetated buffer plus 50 additional feet of building setback. Total building setback equals at least 200 feet from each side of a perennial stream. Other Water Bodies: A minimum of 100 feet of vegetated buffer plus 30 additional feet of building setback. Total building setback equals at least 130 feet from the boundary of a wetland or pond, or the ordinary high-water mark of an intermittent stream, lake, or reservoir. If the riparian area associated with a water body extends beyond the pertinent vegetated buffer outlined above, extend the vegetated buffer to encompass all of the riparian area. Within the planning area, the West Valley pothole wetland complex and its surrounding agricultural lands (Figure 1) provide critical stopover sites for tens of thousands of migratory waterfowl and hundreds of sandhill cranes each spring and fall. Because these species rely on large, intact landscapes and the connection between wetland roosting sites and agricultural foraging areas, promoting high- density development in this area by including it in the Kalispell Growth Policy Planning Area is incompatible with preserving this area for staging migratory waterfowl and cranes. If the City chooses to maintain the West Valley area in the Growth Plan, FWP recommends the following landscape-scale conservation strategies: 1) maintaining large lot sizes (>40 acres) with one residential dwelling only to conserve habitat, and 2) limit road development to reduce habitat fragmentation and disturbance. Special consideration is required for sensitive species, including nesting bald eagles (protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act) and heron rookeries, with several known locations within the Growth Policy Planning Area. To prevent disturbance and ensure compliance with federal guidelines, development should maintain a 660-foot (quarter mile) setback around nesting eagle sites i. Additionally, a 200-meter, year-round buffer is recommended to protect heron rookeries from disturbance ii. In addition to the strategies above to protect water quality, wildlife movement, and migratory waterfowl habitat, FWP also encourages the city to adopt regulations to reduce wildlife conflict. Mountain lions, bears, deer, elk, and wild turkeys occupy all of northwest Montana, and the City of Kalispell is no exception. Location data from collared grizzly bears illustrates their regular presence and use of the Planning Area. The Flathead and Stillwater rivers and North Shore of Flathead Lake serve as travel routes, and wetlands and sloughs within river floodplains are used extensively. Likewise, deer and wild turkey are common within the Planning Area, and attractants can artificially concentrate these species, creating conflict. FWP recommends incorporating the following recommendations as required conditions for any development within the Planning Area to minimize the frequency of wildlife conflicts and protect natural resources valued by residents: • Require garbage be stored either in secure, bear-resistant containers or indoors to avoid attracting wildlife such as bears and raccoons. • Require fruit-producing trees and shrubs be contained within electric fencing to deter conflicts with bears. • Prohibit use of bird feeders between April 1 and November 30 to avoid attracting bears, and year-long if wild turkeys are in the area. • Require livestock and pet feed be secured in bear-proof containers or stored within an enclosed building to prevent wildlife conflicts. We appreciate the chance to review this proposal. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kalispell area wildlife biologist Franz Ingelfinger at fingelfinger@mt.gov and Kalispell area fisheries biologist Kenneth Breidinger at kbreidinger@mt.gov . Sincerely, Amber Steed Region 1 Supervisor Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks i Montana Bald Eagle Working Group. 2010. Montana Bald Eagle Management Guidelines: An Addendum to Montana Bald Eagle Management Plan, 1994, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Helena, Montana. ii Azerrad, J. M. 2012. Management recommendations for Washington's priority species: Great Blue Heron. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Olympia, Washington. Figure 1: West Valley Area of Concern (Within the Kalispell Growth Policy Planning Area) – Agricultural land and wetlands roughly bounded by the area from the intersection of Old Reserve Drive and Stillwater Road, north to Round Up Lane, east to the Stillwater River, north to Church Drive, east to Farm to Market Road, south to Coclet Ln, east West Valley Drive, south to Old Reserve Drive, and east back to the point of origin.