Project concerns neighbors

Plans for construction on a plot of land off of River Road West in Plains have area residents concerned about potential repercussions. While several residents of the neighborhood above River Road West have voiced apprehensions about the proposed construction due largely to environmental concerns, officials from Sanders County have asserted that there would be no inherent risk in the proposed building.

The project in question is a house, which would be built on the northwest side of River Road West, which lies in close proximity to the floodplain of the Clark Fork River. The elevation of this floodplain is approximately 2,460 feet above sea level, and the finished floor of the house would sit at 2,462 feet. Dena Richards, a Plains resident who lives on a hill just above the proposed site, stated that this may be too close, and will not be an adequate precaution against water damage. There is also the concern that the necessary septic system for the house would contaminate the river waters, which are often used for recreation.

A notification of the projected construction was mailed to residents on Sept. 16, and required response by Sept. 24, according to Plains resident Frank Cooney.

Much of the concern from area residents stems from an issue that occurred during river flooding in 1997. At this time, a home owned by Plains resident Dave Reynolds had to be razed because ground saturation and erosion had washed away much of the ground supporting the house, and the structure hung off the river bank out into the river. Community officials deemed this situation to be putting the Thompson Falls Dam at risk, as any part of the house that broke away could very easily have washed down the river and into the dam, causing structural damage. It was at that point that the house was burned down.

Cooney says that the impact that this house left on the river can still be seen.

“I fish down there,” Cooney said, “and you can still see the slab for the garage, which is crumbling into the river.”

Though this home was built closer to the river, the projected site for the new house still lies in close proximity to the 100-year flood plain of the Clark Fork River. This is what is concerning to lifelong Plains resident Austin Urion, who lives off of River Road West. According to Urion, that area and up over the road was covered in water during a flood in 1948.

Even if flooding is relatively rare, residents are concerned that the area is too susceptible to moisture to be a safe place to build.

“You could probably dig [at the proposed building site] right now and get water,” Cooney said.

Urion’s experience in the area corroborates these concerns.

“I’ve seen that whole field under water,” Urion said, “and if conditions are right, it’s going to happen again.”

According to Dan Miles, the Sanders County Floodplain Administrator, these concerns are unfounded, and the county has taken every measure to ensure safe building. He identifies two different areas involved in a floodplain, the floodway and the flood fringe, which is the edge of a projected floodplain. Regulations state that a structure can be built near a flood fringe if it is elevated at least two feet above the projected floodplain. Miles states that a similar situation can be found in other parts of the community.

“This is really the same issue as in South Plains,” Miles said.

In order for a project like this to receive a go-ahead from the county, engineers and surveyors need to work together to ensure that the structure can be built to the necessary elevation.

As for the septic system, Miles stated that the proposed system meets restrictions on quality that few systems can match.

“In fact, it’s probably a newer and better system than many in place,” Miles said.

According to Miles, the builders submitted several different construction proposals before one met the requirements.

“It’s the only place that can be built on that property,” Miles said. “This will be the only structure on that 40 acres.”

Of the 40 acres included within the property, only a half an acre is at the elevation necessary to meet the building restrictions.

For Miles, the situation is a typical one, and if all of the building regulations are met during construction, the house should pose no threat to the environment or to area residents. Miles stated that an unsafe plan would have never gained county approval.

“It’s a very restrictive process,” Miles said.

Ultimately, residents of the area are concerned for whoever moves into the house in the end.

“Whoever ends up in that house, sooner or later, they’ll have problems there,” Urion said.