North Shore Waterfowl Production Area
Protecting a Gem – The North Shore of Flathead Lake
The north shore of Flathead Lake stretches for seven miles between Somers and Bigfork. It is a myriad of mostly undeveloped shoreline, wetlands, and adjoining uplands with a majestic backdrop of the Swan Mountains and Flathead Lake. This rich habitat is critical as a refueling stop for tens of thousands of waterfowl and shorebirds on their long migrations each spring and fall. Over 229 species of birds use this special place that has been declared an Important Bird Area by National Audubon Society. The largely undeveloped North Shore also protects the water quality of Flathead Lake and has some of the richest soils in the nation, important for agriculture. It is also provides public access to a special place rich in outdoor recreation opportunities. Most of the wetlands and shoreline along the North Shore are part of the Flathead Lake Waterfowl Production Area administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. However, land adjacent to the Waterfowl Production Area is critical to protect the conservation values of the North Shore.
A collaborative group of landowners, land trusts, conservation organizations, and county, tribal, state, and federal agencies, called the Flathead River to Lake Initiative, of which Flathead Land Trust is a major partner, is working to protect the conservation values of the North Shore. In 2006, this group began reaching out to landowners on the North Shore to let them know about conservation options for their land. Over the next ten years, four landowners wanted to sell their property for a conservation outcome. Flathead Land Trust worked in cooperation with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to bring these projects, totaling almost 500 acres, to completion. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is now the landowner of these properties. Managed as fish and wildlife management areas open to the public, this swath forever protects fish and wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation opportunities and beautiful views on the North Shore.
Aerial photos of protected properties along the North Shore of Flathead Lake by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks