Lake levels lowering, all dam generators in operation
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News from Energy Keepers, Inc.
POLSON — Representatives from Energy Keepers, Inc., NorthWestern Energy, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, and Bureau of Indian Affairs conferred on Nov. 22 regarding current and projected operation of the Seli’š Ksanka Qlispe (formerly Kerr) Project. The current outflow is about 15,000 cubic feet per second and the lake elevation, as of Dec. 1 at midnight, was 2,892.3 feet.
November was an above-average month for water supply in the Flathead Basin. The natural streamflow was 247 percent of average (compared to 1981-2010 historical data) and is forecasted to be 160 percent of average in December. Precipitation accumulation was less impressive at 50 percent of average as measured by the National Weather Service at the SKQ Dam.
Due to the historically high water supply, Energy Keepers started spilling in the last week of October to manage the lake elevation. EKI is currently drafting the lake at one-tenth of a foot a day to end December between 2,888 and 2,889 feet. Generating units are now fully operable and generating. After December, EKI will be on track for winter flood control drawdown through March as per the Memorandum of Understanding of
