Flat head Lake

Our waterfront in Montana has a sordid history. When we first bought the property, some 30 years ago, it was unclear that waterfront came with the property. The 1890 survey of record was made with “rods and chains“ and was not likely to be all that accurate. We had the land surveyed and sure enough 52 feet of frontage was delivered with the property. This amount of frontage allowed us to have a small dock by county regulations.

However, we later learned that our neighbors to the north “owned the lake bottom in front of our frontage”. This seemed entirely wrong to us. However, after 15 years of attorneys, title reports, rumors and voodoo, it was substantiated that the neighbors did own the lake bottom and blocked our dock plans!

Nevertheless, we were not deterred. With the 52 feet of land above the waterline we were able to build out a rock patio and wood-decked living environment right at the water’s edge. This did not come without strife and grief however, as the northern neighbors protested (drove a “No Trespassing” sign post at the high water mark in front of our land) and manhandled my contractor. We initiated restraining orders against the neighbors and we’re allowed to complete the permitted work.

More recently, the Montana Supreme Court overturned this outdated and pernicious law that allowed a landowner to own the lake bottom in front of an upland riparian land owner. Last year we were permitted to construct a small dock that attached to the shore and have a boat on the lake that didn’t require canoeing out to a mooring ball. This dock took 30 years to achieve.

The photograph is a long exposure moonlight shot that documented an evening party down at the waters edge where the fire pit is.

My frustration was so acute that I expressed it through a piece of art.