Lake levels slightly below average after dry October
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FLATHEAD LAKE — Representatives from Energy Keepers, Inc., NorthWestern Energy, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and the Bureau of Indian Affairs conferred on Oct. 27 regarding current and projected operation of the Seli’s? Ksanka Qlispe’ Project, formerly the Kerr Project.
The current outflow is about 6,540 cubic feet per second and the lake elevation, as of Nov. 3 at midnight was 2,891.1 feet.
Until recently, dry conditions have persisted. In October, the natural stream flow averaged 62 percent of median and 59 percent of average (historical data from 1981-2010). There was very little precipitation to start the month, ending October with an accumulation of .99 inches for the Flathead basin, .19 inch lower than normal for October.
November and December forecasts show 44 percent of normal for the natural stream flow. EKI estimates that the average outflow will be approximately 6,900 cfs to 7,300 cfs through December with an ending lake elevation on Dec. 31 of 2888.0 feet as per the Drought Management Plan.
The conveyance of the Kerr Project to CSKT was closed effective 12:00:01 a.m. on Sept. 5. EKI is a tribally-owned corporation with which CSKT has delegated the authority and responsibility to manage, operate and maintain the Seli’s? Ksanka Qlispe’ Project on behalf of CSKT.
