About Whitefish Lake

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 residents not on City water pull their drinking water directly from the lake. These are some of the primary reasons to protect the quality of Whitefish Lake and its tributaries. Whitefish Lake water is also used by Iron Horse to irrigate its 18 hole golf course 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, State Park, and Les Mason often become very crowded during the peak of summer.
The Future Our everyday activities impact the health of the lake and its tributaries. We unintentionally contribute sewage, gasoline, oil, sediment, runoff from impermeable surfaces (roofs, driveways, sideways), landscaping chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and railroad debris into our waterways. 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.