Flathead Lake users need predictability in water level

Much has been written and said about the Energy Keeper’s management of the water in Flathead Lake during the last three years of their controlling the outflow of the lake. 

While there are many factors in the management of the dam, it is abundantly clear that for 84 years the Montana Power Company and its successor, PPL, have successfully managed the summer flows out of the lake under a memorandum of understanding in a way that provided predictable and manageable levels of water thru periods of drought and floods.  

Please refer to the chart with this story online that reveals the excellent results the managers of the operation of the dam had prior to 2023. You can also refer to the excellent coverage the Daily Inter Lake has been giving to the predictions and results of the current management has made, recently warning of anticipated lower levels for this July and August.  

While the warnings are appreciated by the recreationists and lake property owners, they shouldn’t have to happen. Just look at the chart.   

They cite all kinds of factors like drought mitigation plans, in stream flow requirements and salmon management to control their water flows. The real factor they are using is selling power to California and Washington utility providers when they need it and are willing to pay the prices. So, what’s the difference?   

The difference is that Energy Keeper’s is a energy producing utility with no distribution network. All of their power is sold to outside utilities for the highest price when they need it the most. Montana Power and PPL had Bonneville Power to bank their power production when they produced and didn’t need it. Energy Keeper’s did not. The results are obvious. 

It is time for the Seli’s Ksanka Qlispe’ Dam, (formerly known as Kerr Dam) be leased to a valid energy producing company that has the ability to bank the generation when not needed and focus on maintaining the lake for the storage, flood control and recreation as it was originally built for. 

There is much discussion about the Hellgate Treaty of 1855 and the aboriginal water rights the tribe is entitled to use. I learned early on that “whiskey’s for drinking and water’s for fighting.” Water rights are based upon two fundamental issues: "First in time and first in use." There is no doubt or disputing the tribes were here first.  The question I have is how do they prove historical beneficial water use? They certainly can’t say they used the many thousands of CFS currently flowing through the SKQ Dam for their consumption and domestic use, yet they claim to have control over the water that flows through.   

Let’s bury the hatchet and work together for a better Flathead Lake. One that so many visitors and residents can enjoy with some sense of predictability.

I want to thank Brian Lipscomb and the management of Energy Keeper’s for the great job they did last year but hope that we can find a way for the resource to be utilized for all with beneficial results for the CSKT this year and the coming years. 

Greg Barkus was a Region 1 commissioner for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks from 1989-1993, and a state senator from 2001-2009. He lives in Bigfork.