KALISPELL -- A revised plan to establish a state fishing-access site at northwestern Montana's Lake Five has been unveiled by the state Parks Division, several years after a previous proposal was blocked in court.

A new environmental assessment lays out two options for fishing access on the south side of the lake, which is between Columbia Falls and West Glacier.

Under one of them, existing state property on Lake Five would be developed with an 800-foot access road, a parking area, a boat launch and a restroom. The property is the same site covered by the previous proposal that court action halted.

The other alternative would require the state to buy 5 acres from owners of Lake Five Resort. Development of that property would be similar to what is proposed for the other, but with a 500-foot road. Acquiring the private parcel would require the state to sell or trade the other.

For years, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks has stocked kokanee salmon and rainbow trout in Lake Five. Boats have been launched from Lake Five Resort for a fee, access that state officials say could be repealed at any time.

Several years ago, the Parks Division proposal to develop fishing access on Lake Five drew objections from neighboring landowners, who cited potential for litter, boating safety conflicts and other problems. A Lake Five homeowners group filed a lawsuit charging the state did not conduct an adequate process in selecting a location for fishing access. A court injunction prohibited development of the property, which the state had bought with donated money.

Rather than appeal the court decision, Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials decided to launch a new environmental review involving other fishing access options in northwestern Montana. A new committee developed criteria for site selection.

The most notable proposal was for access at Lake Blaine west of Kalispell, but regional parks manager Dave Landstrom said the landowner ultimately was unwilling to sell the property. Another proposed site, along the Flathead River near Coram, was sold before it could be included in a formal analysis.

''Ultimately what happened was we ended up evaluating only two sites, both of which are on Lake Five,'' said Landstrom, who acknowledged that some of the earlier controversy could resurface. State officials have tried to ensure that the process leading up to the proposals will pass legal muster.

A 30-day comment period on the environmental assessment will end on Dec. 22. Public meetings in Hungry Horse are scheduled for Dec. 3 and Dec. 10.