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As we watch the loons and trumpeter swans rear their young, it is easy to believe that the waters in the Clearwater Valley remains relatively pristine. And yes, compared to many other areas of the country we continue to enjoy relatively clean waters. However, multiple indicators demonstrate our waters are at risk. Reports of septic contamination in groundwater testing wells are routine in Seeley Lake. Blue-green algae blooms are becoming an increasing common occurrence in the early fall....
In March 2022 the Seeley Lake Missoula County Sewer District advertised a “Request For Qualifications” to address the groundwater degradation occurring in the District. The District received four responses to its request. The responses were from Morrison/Maierle, IMEG (formerly Territorial Land works), AquaTech and SepticNet/WET. The “Qualifications” were reviewed and scored by the Board of Directors of the District. A District Selection Committee will interview all the respondents. The Selection Committee is composed of two board members, thre...
SEELEY LAKE – At their June 16 meeting, the Seeley Lake Sewer District Board adopted next year’s budget and selected the equal assessment method to spread the assessment among landowners in the District. The Board adopted their fiscal year 2023 budget of $116,805. Of that, the District will use $84,397.98 from their reserves, money collected last year but not spent, and only assess landowners for $32,407. This will result in a significant break on landowner’s tax bill. The Board also voted to use the equal assessment method of spreading the tax...
SEELEY LAKE – Missoula County Building Official Dave Larkin presented the Seeley Lake Community Council information regarding the need for increased building permit fees and ways the building division is funded. There were several other updates provided the Council regarding the Seeley Lake Ranger District, Bob Marshall Music Festival, Change Your Pace Challenge and the new Seeley Lake resource specialist with Missoula Aging Services. Unlike other county departments which are funded through the county general fund, the building division, which...
SEELEY LAKE – At their April 21 meeting, the Seeley Lake Sewer District Board plans to put out a Request for Proposals (RFP) but delayed when they would be due. They also voted to expend money from the District’s reserves for much of next year’s budget to reduce the burden on taxpayers for a year. District Manager Bill Decker reported that there were two replies to the District’s Request for Qualifications (RFQ) that came in on time with the required number of copies, one that came in on time but was missing the number of copies and another...
In both 1993 and 1995, the Department of Geology at the University of Montana did a study called "Cumulative Effects of Domestic Sewage Disposal on Groundwater of Missoula County: An analysis of Carrying Capacity" for the Missoula County Commissioners. There were testing sites throughout the county, but the ones we are interested in are those in Seeley Lake. They monitored the area by the airport, downtown and Camp Paxson. AIRPORT: The earth materials are glacially derived unsorted sand and...
SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Community Council April meeting will be held virtually via Zoom at 6 p.m. Monday, April 11. Everyone is encouraged to attend this informative meeting with the following speakers: 1. Randy Arnold, Supervisor, Missoula District, Montana FWP 2. Carolyn Upton, Supervisor, Lolo National Forest 3. Seeley Lake Fire District candidates: Jon Kimble and Alyssa McLean 4. Bill Decker, Manager, Seeley Lake Sewer District 5. Quinn Carver, Seeley Lake District Ranger Attendees hear updates on projects important to the area i...
MISSOULA COUNTY - Following election by acclamation of numerous candidates, the Missoula Board of County Commissioners canceled several May 3 special district elections. Potomac School, Seeley Lake Elementary, Sunset School and Swan Valley School also canceled their Trustee elections after applicants filled the open positions. There are still several board positions that remain unfilled, as indicated in the list below. Commissioners are seeking applicants to fill these board positions, which will become vacant May 31. Applicants must be...
SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Sewer District Board continued to hone a water testing regiment for the lake and began discussing next year’s budget at their March 17 meeting. Over the last several months the Board has been discussing with Clearwater Resource Council (CRC) how to do water testing to assess the human impact on Seeley Lake. The Board amended their budget in November to allocate $5,515 for environmental DNA (eDNA) testing but learned last month that it would not be enough for a year. This month CRC came back with another tes...
The Importance of Proper Liquid Waste Disposal Why do we care about correct liquid wastewater effluent disposal? Here are a few reasons: • Environmental protection: Improper wastewater effluent disposal can hurt the surrounding environment. It can affect the balance of aquatic ecosystems and kill marine organisms. Or it can seep into the soil, kill plants, destroy natural habitats and cause biodiversity loss. • Human health protection: Inadequate wastewater effluent disposal can also make peo...
SEELEY LAKE - The Board of Supervisors for the Missoula Conservation District approved three grants from their winter grant cycle to support local conservation. Among the recipients was Seeley-Swan High School. SSHS received a $500 Operation Mini Grant for students in high school science classes to continue water quality monitoring of Morrell Creek near the high school. SSHS Science Teacher Gretchen Watkins applied for the grant after they lost the funding from the Seeley Lake Sewer District this past fall. The Sewer District originally signed...
Seeley Lake Community Council to meet virtually SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Community Council will meet via Zoom at 6 p.m. for their March 14 meeting. The agenda includes: updating the Council’s bylaws with Laurie Hire from Missoula County Community and Planning Services; Seeley Lake Sewer District updates from Cheri Thompson; and updates from Seeley Lake District Ranger Quinn Carver. The official agenda will be posted on the Seeley Lake Community Council’s Facebook page. To join the Zoom meeting visit https://us02web.zoom...
SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Sewer District Board moved forward with advertising a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) and discussed water testing and an increase in eDNA testing at its Feb. 17 meeting. At last month’s meeting the Board discussed whether to send out a RFQ or Request for Proposals (RFP). District Manager Bill Decker wrote up a proposed RFQ for the Board to consider at this meeting. Director Cheri Thompson said the proposed RFQ was not specific enough and wanted specific details about the District in it instead of the entire com...
With several special district governing board positions up for election within Missoula County in Potomac, Seeley Lake and the Swan Valley, the Seeley Lake Rural Fire District Board is the only election currently on the ballot for the May 3 election. However, write-in candidates can still file until Feb. 28 at 5 p.m. A write-in candidate could trigger an election if there are more candidates than vacancies. The School District candidate filing closes March 24 at 5 p.m. There are several positions up for election at Seeley Lake Elementary, Swan...
Because it isn't good for our living environment. When a septic system fails, it causes untreated sewage to be released and transported to where it shouldn't be. This may cause sewage to come to the surface of the ground around the tank or the drainfield or to back up in pipes in the building. The sewage could also find its way into groundwater, surface water or marine water without us ever seeing it. The sewage carries pathogens and other dangerous contaminants. Exposure to these pathogens and...
SEELEY LAKE – The community is invited to join the Seeley Lake Community Council Feb. 14 to keep up-to-date on important issues. The Council will meet at the Seeley Lake Historical Museum and Visitors Center, 2920 Highway 83, at 6 p.m. with pizza and water served at 5:30 p.m. There will also be a Zoom link for those who wish to join virtually. The Council’s agenda for February includes: • Montana Department of Transportation/HDR Engineering: Salmon Lake Highway 83 Reconstruction project update • Alex Ramsing, Landlord Liaison, Homeword Inc: re...
SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Sewer District Board brought on its new manager and discussed how to move forward to identify and implement a solution to Seeley’s wastewater issues at its Jan. 20 meeting. The Board was also informed that Missoula County would no longer provide some of the services formerly given to the District. Vice President Pat Goodover presented an idea to put out a Request for Proposal (RFP) to the various manufacturers who have presented their products to the Board in the last few months. The manufacturers would be giv...
There are several Missoula County governing board positions up for election May 3 in Potomac, Seeley Lake and the Swan Valley. Candidates can file their Oath of Candidacy form through the Missoula County Elections office for Special District elections until Feb. 7 at 5 p.m. The deadline for filing for School District elections is March 24 at 5 p.m. The Oath of Candidacy must be signed before a notary and mailed or delivered to the Missoula County Elections Office, 140 North Russell Street, Missoula, MT 59801 prior to the deadline. There are als...
1) Have your septic tank system inspected and pumped regularly Sludge in large quantities can only be eliminated by a professional pumper. You should have a pumper inspect your septic system to determine if the accumulation of solid waste is too high and needs to be removed. It is recommend the average septic system should be inspected every 3-5 years. Five key factors that influence the frequency with which you'll need to have your septic system pumped: household size, total wastewater...
SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Sewer District Board selected a candidate for their open Interim District Manager position and heard a presentation from a manufacturer of wastewater treatment systems at its Dec. 16 meeting. The Board interviewed two candidates, David Losee and William (Bill) Decker for the manager position at last month’s meeting. After a 15-minute executive session the Board unanimously voted to offer the job to Decker. “It was a really tough decision because both of the candidates are highly qualified,” said Board Preside...
SEELEY LAKE – At their Nov. 18 meeting, the Seeley Lake Sewer District Board interviewed two candidates for the District Manager position, heard a presentation on an alternative sewer and voted to fund E-DNA testing on Seeley Lake. A vote to continue funding of a high school water-testing program on Morrell Creek failed. The Board interviewed David Losee and William (Bill) Decker for the open District Manager position. Both are Seeley Lake residents who live outside of the Sewer District and both said they would not rule out ever investing i...
In celebration of 35 years of the Seeley Swan Pathfinder, each week we will run parts of articles that appeared in the issue 35 years ago and 20 years ago. The entire issue will be uploaded to our website seeleylake.com for you to enjoy. We hope you will enjoy the journey with us as we follow our community through the past 35 years as documented by the Pathfinder. 35 years ago: Nov. 26, 1986 issue Library may open to community Seeley Lake residents may have an opportunity to use the high school...
HOW DOES YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM WORK? The septic tank holds the wastewater from homes or businesses until solid debris settles at the bottom of the tank (the sludge layer) and lighter waste, such as oil, rises to the top (the scum layer). Between the two layers lies the effluent liquid, which flows into an outlet pipe and is gradually dissipated through a drain field. Bacteria in the septic tank naturally break down organic waste matter and slows the accumulation of the sludge layer. WHAT IF THERE...
SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Community Council will have its November meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 8 at the Seeley Lake Historical Museum and Visitors Center, 2920 Highway 83N. Pizza and water will be served starting at 5:30 p.m. This meeting will be a Senior Symposium, providing an overview of the many services available to the senior population in the valley. Presenters will include Missoula Aging Services, Seeley Lake Community Foundation, the Seeley Lake Senior Center (Sela Senci), the Seeley Lake Community Food Bank and others. Don’t m...
SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Sewer District Board discussed the hiring process for a manager, water testing and hosted representatives from two wastewater treatment companies at their Oct. 21 meeting. The District has received two applicants for its open Interim District Manager position from Seeley Lake residents. While a job description was approved in July, the interview process and interview questions for the position were not created. The Board voted to approve the interview questions at the November meeting ahead of interviewing the a...
