Montana’s Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) has begun formal steps to develop northeastern Montana’s first state park on land surrounding a popular lake northeast of Dagmar. Brush Lake historically has been a favorite recreation and picnicking site for people from local communities across northeastern Montana and western North Dakota. More recently, the lake has been used for pleasure boating, personal watercraft operation, swimming, group use and camping.
Located about two miles from the North Dakota border due east of Dagmar, Brush Lake is a glacial prairie pothole. The lake’s water is highly alkaline, making it inhospitable to fish.
“Because of its sterility, Brush Lake offers the rare opportunity to eliminate the possibility of conflicts between watercraft users and anglers,” says Woody Baxter, FWP’s regional parks manager. “Much of Brush Lake’s shoreline is covered with fine sand, which is one reason it has been such a popular water body for swimmers.”
The majority of visits to Brush Lake are from residents of the surrounding communities of Plentywood, Scobey and Culbertson, Mont., and Grenora and Williston, North Dakota. For these residents, the lake is the closest body of water, and for some visitors, the only local lake open to public use.
The land surrounding Brush Lake is owned by two separate landowners. The owners of the northern two-thirds of the lake have not restricted public access, which is achieved by a dirt road from the East Reserve Highway. This area does not have sanitation facilities or regular maintenance, and visitors frequently leave litter on the property. The southern third of the lake contains a non-operational concession facility, which once charged visitors a fee to use the area. Facilities include a dozen cabins, a bathhouse, restaurant building and a metal pole barn. Until 2002, a concessionaire leased the facilities.
The concept of creating a state park at Brush Lake was initiated in 2001 by local citizens Doug Smith of Dagmar and Tim Hutslar of Medicine Lake, who promoted the site as members of FWP’s Region Six State Park Search Committee. State Senator Linda Nelson of Medicine Lake presented legislation in 2003 that directed FWP to pursue a state park at the Brush Lake site. Another member of the park search committee, State Senator Sam Kitzenberg of Glasgow, strongly supported the legislation, which was approved by the legislature.
The initial phase of state-park development includes acquiring property. FWP proposes to acquire the entire section of property that surrounds and includes the lake. In order to acquire the designated land, negotiations with the two landowners is required. All agreements and understandings are subject to approval by the FWP Commission and the State Land Board.
At this time, the landowner who controls the northern two thirds of the lake has joined FWP in a purchase agreement. FWP has not yet approached the other landowner with an appraised purchase price or offer, but hopes to do so in the next few weeks, according to Baxter.
“A lot of people have interest in Brush Lake and the development of a more accessible, public recreation facility,” says Baxter. “As part of the Montana State Parks system, the facility would likely include designated camping sites, designated day-use/picnic sites, a group-use shelter, boat docks and a boat ramp.”
Park development might also include maintenance buildings, concession building and rental cabins at some point in the future. Baxter stresses that specific recreational planning for the proposed park would include significant public input from residents of the nearby communities.
“Brush Lake is a treasured local resource, and we would like to improve facilities and access, and promote the lake and its surrounding terrain to an even larger audience across the state and region,” says Baxter. “We’re eager to hear from local residents about how we should proceed.”
An Environmental Assement (EA), which describes the proposed acquisition process, has been prepared by FWP and is available for public review. If the land is acquired by FWP, an additional EA will be produced in order to address the recreational development of a state park at Brush Lake. Comments on this initial acquisition EA must be received by FWP by Nov. 22, 2004. To receive a copy of the EA, contact the Glasgow office of FWP at 228-3700 or write to Montana FWP, RR1-4210, Glasgow, MT 59230. You can also email your comments to jelletson@state.mt.us.
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