Publications

The Montana Lake Book
Coordinated by: Mike Koopal, Founder & Executive Director: Whitefish Lake Institute and John Wachsmuth: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

The Montana Lake Book explains how lakes function, how they are threatened and how they can be protected. It also spells out simple actions you can take to help protect and preserve the lakes of Montana. Lakes are among our most valued – and most threatened – natural resources. For people, lakes provide recreation and drinking water; for fish and other wildlife, lakes provide habitat. Despite these critical roles, few people understand how their daily actions can threaten our lakes. Even if you live miles from a lake, you live in a watershed that directly affects lake quality, and it is everyone's responsibility to understand how we can protect our lakes and clean water. Lake protection is an investment in our future and our children's future. Learn how you can make a difference. The Montana Lake Book was guided by an 11-person steering committee and was sponsored by the Flathead Basin Commission; Flathead Conservation District; Flathead Lake Biological Station, Flathead National Forest Service; Flathead River Commission, Montana Department of Environmental Quality; Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks; National Resources Conservation Service; Whitefish County Water District; and the Whitefish Lake Institute.

View full PDF of The Montana Lake Book

Flathead Watershed Sourcebook: A Guide to an Extraordinary Place By Lori S. Curtis, Science & Education Director: Whitefish Lake Institute The 260-page book details the geography, cultures, natural history and economics of the Flathead Valley of northwestern Montana, and includes 300 graphics and photographs. It includes: An overview of the human history, both native and European, cultures of the Flathead Descriptions of the unique natural history of the region's geology and plant and animal life Explanation of land ownership patterns, land management and resource management Details of the economy, food and natural resource production The Flathead Watershed Sourcebook website

The Flathead Watershed Sourcebook – and its companion website www.flatheadwatershed.org – was written for the Flathead Community of Resource Educators (CORE) and served as the author's Master's Thesis in Environmental Studies. It was sponsored by: F. H. Stoltze Land & Lumber; Flathead Audubon; Flathead Basin Commission; Flathead Conservation District; Flathead County River Commission; Flathead Lakers; Flathead National Forest; Flathead Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited; Glacier Association; Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks; Northwest Regional RC&D; River Design Group; the Sustainability Fund, the Whitefish Lake Institute, and several individuals.