County amends several lakeshore protection rules

Lake County commissioners on Monday voted unanimously to adopt several amendments to the county’s lakeshore protections rules.

The new regulations include updates to standards for boat shelters, breakwater portions of a dock, dock width, buoy location, floating dock locations, administrative language, and the prohibition of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. They went into effect Sept. 1.

The county is in the process of amending its lakeshore protection regulations, and Monday’s vote was just part of an ongoing process.

“This was the result of a process that’s been carried out since June,” Planning Director Jacob Feistner told commissioners prior to their vote.

Commissioners passed a resolution of intention to adopt the amendments during a July 21 public hearing, then opened a 30-day comment period. No comments were submitted to the county.

Monday’s vote involved nine amendments related to a process for dealing with violations; allowable width of portions of docks; the location of boat shelters and boat lifts; a ban on fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides within the lakeshore protection zone; and the placement of buoys.

Details of the approved amendments are available from the Lake County Planning Department by contacting 406-883-7205 or planning@lakemt.gov. They may be viewed online at tinyurl.com/jjc58uyv. For more information, visit www.planlakecounty.com.

Feistner said the latest amendments were the most urgent priority for the county, and they address sections 1, 3 and 4 of the county’s overall plan for lakeshore protection. The Lake County Planning Board will continue to work on other sections of the plan and suggest amendments for commissioners to consider.