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FWP acquires Flathead Lake property for new state park

Somers Beach State Park map
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Somers Beach State Park map

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks acquired a roughly 100-acre property Wednesday near Somers on the north end of Flathead Lake. The property will eventually become a state park, a process FWP says could take months.

FWP acquired the property from a local family, which historically allowed the public to recreate on the land. The agency has put forth an interim plan to address public access, sanitation and safety issues at the site. Public comment on the plan will be accepted through Nov. 6.

The purchase follows FWP’s acquisition of a 15-acre fishing access site on Flathead Lake near Dayton last month. Both purchases are part of an effort to provide more access on Flathead Lake as its popularity soars.

Flathead Lake State Park was the third most visited state park statewide as of July. State park visitation statewide was up 11% over last year and nearly 45% over 2019.

Aaron graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Journalism in 2015 after interning at Minnesota Public Radio. He landed his first reporting gig in Wrangell, Alaska where he enjoyed the remote Alaskan lifestyle and eventually moved back to the road system as the KBBI News Director in Homer, Alaska. He joined the MTPR team in 2019. Aaron now reports on all things in northwest Montana and statewide health care.
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