Decision to Improve Four State Park Bicycle Campsites

SEELEY LAKE –Montana State Parks (stateparks.mt.gov) announced that a decision notice has been issued for proposed shared group bicycle campsites at four state parks in western Montana. The decision notice recommends to move forward with the improvement and installation of the bicycle campsites at Whitefish Lake State Park near Whitefish, Mont., Flathead Lake-Wayfarers State Park near Bigfork, Mont., and Placid Lake and Salmon Lake State Parks near Seeley Lake.  

The proposed improvements include enhancing existing shared group bicycle campsites at Whitefish Lake and Wayfarers State Parks and construction of new shared group bicycle campsites at Placid Lake and Salmon Lake State Parks. The shared group bicycle sites will accommodate up to 10 tent spaces and be equipped with a bicycle rack, fire ring, bear resistant food lockers, potable water, bicycle maintenance stand, electrical outlets and covered shelter with picnic tables.

The improved existing bicycle campsites and creation of new sites at two additional parks will address the increasing demand to accommodate touring bicyclist and help support bicycle tourism in Montana.

It was determined that the proposed action would have no significant effects on the human or physical environment. Therefore, an environmental impact statement will not be prepared. By notification of this Decision Notice, the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) is hereby made the Final EA.

The public comment process for the proposed project was open from Dec. 31, 2015 through Feb. 5. Seventy comments were received all showing support of the proposal. Comments are summarized in the Decision Notice. 

To view the Decision Notice and Final EA, visit: http://stateparks.mt.gov/news/publicNotices/environmental-assessments/pn_0053.html. Or go to stateparks.mt.gov and click on ‘public notices/submit comments’.

This decision notice action is subject to appeal, which must be submitted to Montana State Parks’ Administrator in writing and postmarked within 30 days (by March 24, 2016) of this decision notice.