06/10/2025
Streamflow runoff forecasts continue to decrease
News from Energy Keepers Inc.
POLSON — Unseasonably warm and dry conditions continue to significantly decrease water supply in the Flathead River Basin and spring runoff is quickly receding bringing river flows to extremely low levels. These conditions have forced operations at SKQ to again be at license required minimums and filling Flathead Lake as aggressively as possible while avoiding flood control limits. In spite of these operational sacrifices by EKI, the melted snow remaining will not get Flathead Lake to full pool. Current forecasts have the lake reaching its maximum for the year of 2891.9 feet near June 15 when the inflows are expected to go below the minimum outflow requirement which will cause the lake levels to decrease. The lake may lower an additional foot to be nearly 2 feet below full pool by the 4th of July weekend and potentially 3 feet below full pool in August. Full pool is 2893.
While recreational boating and fishing can continue at any lake elevation with the accessible public boat ramps, lake users should be aware that lakefront boat storage and dock access may be affected if these water level forecasts are realized. As forecasts are updated through the months of June and July EKI will update the public to any changes.
Please see updated forecasts on Flathead Lake levels with inflows and outflows, and frequently
asked questions with answers at: https://energykeepersinc.com/flathead-lake-data/
About Energy Keepers, Inc
Energy Keepers, Inc (EKI) is a is a federally chartered corporation created and wholly owned by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) of the Flathead Reservation, pursuant to
Section 17 of the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. As well as developing economically, the CSKT are nationally recognized as a leader amongst Tribal nations for exercising their sovereign
powers to preserve and protect cultural, wildlife and natural resources of their traditional homeland now and for future generations. CSKT and EKI are the co-licensees of FERC Project
No. 5, the Seli’š Ksanka Qlispe’ Project located on Tribal Land six miles below the natural outlet of Flathead Lake on the Lower Flathead River.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions regarding
Energy Keepers, Inc. and Flathead Lake
Q. Why the sudden decrease in water supply?
A. Unseasonably warm and dry conditions have significantly decreased water supply in the Flathead River Basin. April precipitation in the Flathead basin was 70 percent of normal and
May was 71 percent of normal. So far, June has been significantly below normal and the 10-day weather forecast shows continued below normal chance of precipitation.
Q. If the snow pack is fine then why aren’t we filling this year?
A. Snow pack is currently below normal for both the Middle Fork and the North Fork basins which provide approximately 60% of the inflow to Flathead Lake. In addition, what snow pack we did have is not making it to stream flow due to the unseasonable hot and dry conditions.
The North Fork of the Flathead River for example is currently at 5900 cubic feet per second (cfs) and falling rapidly. This is 50% of normal. The Middle Fork is also at 50% of normal flow. The
biggest driver of the inability to fill the lake is spring precipitation which is forecasted to continue dry conditions in the 10-day weather forecast.
Q. Did EKI implement a drought management plan?
A. EKI began implementing the license-required Drought Management Plan in early spring to protect the minimum instream flows in the Lower Flathead River. On March 13, the U.S Army Corps of Engineers approved a flood risk management deviation request rather than require the full winter drain – typically 10 feet below full pool. These actions helped bring lake elevations to three feet from full pool on May 26. Dam operators have maintained minimum flows since then.
Q. Why did EKI drop the lake a foot when you were in the process of filling it?
A. The decision to increase outflows and drain Flathead Lake in late April was made in consultaon with the USACE to meet Flood Risk Management objectives and minimize spill operations later in the season. The project was as full as permissible on May 26.
Flathead Lake Data Streamflow Runoff Forecasts Continue to Decrease FAQ 2025 Lake Operations Streamflow Runoff Forecasts for the Flathead Basin Decrease Significantly June-9-2025_Lake-Data by chawn.duback | Jun 9, 2025 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments Prolonged hot and dry forecasts continue to decrease...
