Latest news with #FilltheLakeAct
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Flathead Lake water level likely will fall below full pool this summer
Jun. 5—Flathead Lake will not reach full pool this summer, the agency that operates the SKQ Dam said on Thursday. Current forecasts suggest the lake will reach a maximum level of 2,892.3 feet on June 19, according to a press release issued by Energy Keepers, which manages the dam at the lake's southern end. Full pool during the summer months is typically 2,893 feet. Energy Keepers blamed unseasonably warm and dry weather for the deficit. While snowpack reached average levels during the winter and early spring, recent temperature spikes caused rapid snowmelt. As of June 1, snowpack in the Flathead Basin was 59% of median. Dam operators implemented a drought management plan in early spring, including provisions to minimize outflows and retain greater volumes of spring runoff in the lake. On May 26, the lake was at the highest capacity allowed under the drought management plan. Still, Leah Hamilton, the water regulator for the federal Northwestern Division Reservoir Control Center, said the atypical weather conditions will make reaching full pool difficult, even with corrective measures. "Our goal was to coordinate actions to increase the chance of refill as early as possible while balancing needs for flood risk management," Hamilton said in a statement. "However, it's also important to understand how much weather influences refill in Pacific Northwest lakes and reservoirs. Every water year is different, and there is a lot of uncertainty in trying to accurately predict runoff several months into the future." Energy Keepers currently predicts that the water level will reach a summertime low of 2,891.5 feet on July 12. This summer marks the third year in a row that the Flathead Valley has experienced elevated temperatures and low precipitation. The National Oceanic and Atmoshperic Administration predicts that the hot and dry trend will continue through September. In the June 5 press release, Energy Keepers advised lake users that the low water level might affect boat storage and dock access, though public boat ramps are expected to remain accessible. Hydroelectric energy generation will also be affected, with the SKQ dam expected to produce 10% less energy than normal this year. The summer lake level last fell below full pool in 2023 when a spat of warm spring weather caused an early snowmelt and reduced the availability of water during the summer months. Despite the low water level, the SKQ Dam continued some outflows from the lake to meet federal energy quotas and ensure healthy downstream conditions. While that decision drew sharp criticisms from many lakeshore residents, allegations of mismanagement were later dismissed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. But several state and federal lawmakers continue to push for stricter management of the lake's water level during the summer months. U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke reintroduced the Fill the Lake Act early in the Legislative session. The bill proposes keeping Flathead Lake's water level between 2,892 and 2,893 feet between June 15 and Sept. 15. Those levels are already codified through a 1965 Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but Zinke argued that additional legislation is necessary to prevent what he called a "another failure of management that leads to another catastrophically low pool." The bill has not yet been scheduled for a hearing. Sen. Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, also successfully carried a resolution in the state Legislature, asking federal officials to "ensure that recreation needs [on Flathead Lake] be measured fairly compared to hydropower, fish and irrigation demands." The resolution does not change any laws or policies, but a copy of the missive will be sent to key stakeholders in the lake's management as a show of the Legislature's position. In the press release, Energy Keepers confirmed that it will continue to provide updated forecasts of the lake level through June and July. Interested parties can view current and past forecasts at Reporter Hailey Smalley may be reached at 758-4433 or hsmalley@
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Zinke reintroduces efforts to regulate summer water levels on Flathead Lake
Feb. 9—Republican Congressman Ryan Zinke has again introduced legislation that would require the Interior Department to maintain water levels in Flathead Lake during the warmer months. The Fill the Lake Act would keep the water level between 2,892 and 2,893 between June 15 and Sept. 15. He first filed the legislation during the previous session of congress. "The problem is there are too many agencies with conflicting regulations, which makes proper regulation of the lake impossible," said Zinke in email correspondence with the Daily Inter Lake. "The Department of the Interior, the tribes, state agencies and non-government agencies all have a hand on the wheel, but no one is steering the ship." The levels set forth by the Fill the Lake Act are already codified through a 1965 Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but Zinke said additional legislation was necessary to prevent what he called "another failure of management that leads to another catastrophically low pool." The catastrophe in question occurred in 2023, when water levels in Flathead Lake dropped about two feet below full pool. Several local government representatives and lakeshore residents pinned the blame on Energy Keepers, Inc., saying the company was allowing too much water to flow out of the lake through the SKQ Dam. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission dismissed these allegations in 2024. Energy Keepers CEO Brian Lipscomb said the incident was fueled by misunderstandings about the dam's primary purpose. While outflows from the SKQ Dam do impact Flathead Lake's water levels, dam managers must also factor federal energy quotas, endangered species habitat and downstream conditions into their decisions. "It becomes a real complicated picture to say we will save water just for boat storage," said Lipscomb. That picture is already becoming more complex as climate change alters historical weather patterns. Across the state, average temperatures are expected to increase and winter snowpack is expected to decrease, causing more uncertainty about summer water conditions. "If you look at the past three years, it really starts to illustrate the volatility of what we're dealing with," said Lipscomb. While 2023 saw historically low water levels, the lake naturally overfilled in 2022, something that hadn't happened in over 50 years. And even though there was less snowpack in 2024 than in 2023, cool temperatures ensured snow at high elevations did not melt until later in the summer, so Flathead Lake was able to maintain a full pool that year. Lipscomb worries that climate change will continue to introduce uncertainties into the system, especially as warming temperatures are changing when energy is most needed. Historically, energy needs for the region have spiked in winter when residents turn up their heaters, but hotter summer temperatures and more widespread use of air-conditioning is threatening the status quo. The bottom line, said Lipscomb, is that dam managers need tools that allow them to adapt to future changes in a complex system. For his team, that means focusing on building better models to predict summer runoff conditions rather than relying on historical norms. Lipscomb said he would welcome an opportunity to work with Zinke to determine how best to manage Flathead Lake. As of Feb. 3, Zinke's office had not contacted Energy Keepers about the Fill the Lake Act. The act has not yet been referred to a committee for consideration. Zinke said his staff was working closely with the Trump administration to "address the issue administratively," should the measure once again fail to gain traction. Reporter Hailey Smalley can be reached at hsmalley@
