Throughout history, Whitefish Lake has been an important community resource.
About Whitefish Lake
A Resource For All
Whitefish was first home to the Kootenai, Pend d’Oreille, and the Bitterroot Salish Native American tribes. From these first Native American cultures who found sustenance in the Whitefish Lake Watershed and throughout history, Whitefish Lake has been an important community resource. At one time, logs were rafted across the lake to supply a sawmill on the Whitefish River. After the Great Northern Railway was constructed along Whitefish Lake in 1902, ice from the lake was later used to refrigerate produce shipped from California. The ice was cut from the lake and stored in sawdust over the summer. The City of Whitefish initially had two drinking water supply lines originating at the lake, and the railroad had a water line from the lake to supply the train yard. The town grew and people built homes around the lake where they sourced their water. Eventually the city began taking water for its citizens from Haskill Creek. But, as Whitefish continued to grow, the 100-year-old gravity-controlled water supply from Haskill Creek could not keep up with demand. So, the city returned to the lake to augment its water supply in late summer, a practice which continues today. See the Whitefish Water Resources Report: A Status of the Whitefish Lake Watershed & Surrounding Area for in depth cultural and historical information.
Whitefish Lake Today
Today, unlike most Rocky Mountain communities that depend on deep wells, Whitefish is one of the few communities in the region that depends entirely on surface water for its domestic water supply. Many lakeshore residents not on City water pull their drinking water directly from the lake. Whitefish Lake water is also used by golf courses to irrigate fairways, greens, and landscaping. The lake is used increasingly for recreation by swimmers, anglers, and boaters, so much so that public sites such as City Beach, Whitefish Lake State Park, and Les Mason State Park often become very crowded during the peak of summer. The economic benefit of a clear and clean Whitefish Lake enhances surrounding property values by $0.6 to $1.1 billion contributing $5 to $8 million in property tax revenue annually. These are some of the important reasons to protect the quality of Whitefish Lake and its tributaries.
Our everyday activities can effect the health of the lake
We can contribute:
- Septic leachate
- Gasoline & oil
- Erosion and sediment
- Runoff from impermeable surfaces (roofs, driveways, sideways)
- Landscaping chemicals and fertilizers
- Pharmaceuticals and personal care products
- Microplastics
We all share in the responsibility of finding ways to live, recreate, and grow our community responsibly and sustainably. The health of Whitefish Lake and our other public resource assets are inextricably linked to the economic health of our community. Collaboration amongst citizens, community leaders, and resource managers is fundamental to maintaining those assets and the quality of life and economic vitality we enjoy. It is important that we make decisions today that consider long-term consequences, not just short-term gain, so that future generations will have the opportunity to enjoy our local lake resources.
