Scott Mylnechuk / Saturday, October 8, 2022 / Categories: Media, State Issues LETTER: MT BHA Comments on Proposed Holland Lake Expansion October 7, 2022 Chris Dowling District Ranger Flathead National Forest All Units 650 Wolfpack Way Kalispell, MT, 59901 christopher.dowling@usda.gov Re: Proposed Holland Lake Expansion Project Dear Mr. Dowling: The Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers represents roughly 3,000 dues paying members across the state of Montana, each passionate about conservation, our public lands and waters, and our publicly owned wildlife. The proposed expansion to Holland Lake Lodge is proving quite controversial. The existing special use permit holders - along with POWDR, a large ski resort operation - is proposing to tear down ten current structures and replace them with 32 new buildings. Included in proposed expansion is a restaurant, over two dozen lakeside cabins and a new 28-room lodge. The controversial nature of this proposal and process has only gown with recently revealed mistakes made by the US Forest Service and POWDR. While Montana BHA understands the special use permit holders desire to update and expand facilities, many of our members are concerned with the process and environmental impacts this project would have, and the additional recreational pressures this would add to the wild lands that border Holland Lake.To that end, Montana BHA does not believe this project should move forward under a categorical exclusion. We request that the US Forest Service undergo a full environmental assessment of the project and consider an additional extension to the already extended comment period. At the very least, an additional extension will allow the public time to digest and comprehend new information shared by the US Forest Service during recent public meetings in the Seeley-Swan and use that knowledge to submit well-informed comments. Sincerely, Scott Mylnechuk Missoula Valley Regional Leader The Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Previous Article CO BHA Comments on Potential Allocation Changes Next Article EVENT RECAP: CWD Sampling Clinic with FWP in Flathead Valley Print 3 Rate this article: No rating Tags: Montana issuesaccesshabitat Scott MylnechukScott Mylnechuk Other posts by Scott Mylnechuk Contact author