Flathead Lake level simple solutions for full pool
Energy Keepers, Inc. (EKI) and the Confederate Salish Kootenai Tribe (CSKT) have finally taken steps to help maintain Flathead Lake in Northwest Montana close to full pool (2,893 ft) during the summer season by decreasing the outflows of water from the lake by 45%.
This will help, but they’re still trying to justify drawing the lake to below 18 inches by mid-August, and down three feet by the end of August. That is totally unnecessary.
Ideally, EKI, CSKT and the federal regulators need to take two additional simple proactive steps to ensure the lake level is maintained at 12 inches below full pool or higher through Labor Day weekend and preferably through Sept. 15. The two simple steps that logically need to happen are:
1. Match the outflows (water released from the dam) to the inflows (water coming from all tributaries feeding into the lake) through Labor Day weekend. Just match the natural flow of water above and below the dam.
2. The Department of Interior and its agencies should immediately direct the release of water from Hungry Horse Reservoir downstream to supplement the water flowing into Flathead Lake. Just five feet of water from Hungry Horse will add approximately one foot of lake level to Flathead Lake. Then, EKI must be required to retain the extra flows in Flathead Lake. This action has been done many times over the past 60 years and doesn’t disrupt anyone’s docks or recreation while supplying ample water for downstream fish and hydroelectric power generation.
These two simple steps will keep Flathead Lake level within 12 inches of full pool through at least Labor Day.
EKI, CSKT, federal regulators and agencies have finally responded positively to calls by organizations like the National Organization to Save Flathead Lake and others, as well as most of our elected officials, including a House Bill introduced by Congressman Zinke.
Collectively, these positive steps will help Flathead Lake area businesses, community activities, irrigators, recreationists, etc. However, summer is short, and 18 inches is unmanageable for many, posing significant safety issues when using docks and marinas. We need every recreation day possible for our businesses, and our farmers need every drop of water they can get as late in the summer as possible as a matter of survival.
Contrary to claims of hardship to CSKT or EKI, shifting flows into September and keeping the lake higher through Labor Day will actually benefit them financially. The reduction in outflows already implemented will be a significant financial gain for EKI and CSKT as power prices are higher later in the summer season.
According to the Mid-Columbia power trading hub, the forward market estimates that the same megawatt-hour transaction later in the summer and into September would be about double of the month of June’s $45 megawatt-hour prices. Keep in mind, EKI can still sell the same volume of electricity whether it is sold now or later, since it is the same water that is just deferred when flowing through the turbines a month or two later. It’s inventory on hand.
Fisheries will also benefit from more water being available later in the season.
These proposed logical steps are reasonable and fair to all stakeholders. We hope the decision-makers will take these steps and further support our collective community interests and needs.
Thank you to everyone who has tried so hard to find solutions that serve us all.
Carole James, President
National Organization to Save Flathead Lake