SKQ Dam Overlook gates open for season
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News from Energy Keepers Inc.
POLSON – The gates to the SKQ Dam Overlook are now open. On April 15 the gates to the observatory trail opened in the morning and closed at sunset. Gate access will remain on this schedule until October 15.
The scenic walk has attracted school tours, local recreationalists, tourists, and various visitors for years. Each spring the gates swing open to allow sightseers to make a short drive to a parking area above a walking trail that leads down to the observatory that provides breathtaking views of Seli’š Ksanka Qlispe’ (SKQ) Dam.
The experience was upgraded last August when Phase One of the Overlook Rehab Project was completed with fresh updates. The aging wooden steps were removed and replaced with stone steps in August. This improvement marks the completion of Phase One of the Overlook Rehab Project. The work was done by Appelt Hauling and Landscaping in Polson. Each of the 288 installed Argillite stones weigh between 450 to 900 pounds.
In the works is a Phase Two that will be dedicated to enhancing the site’s inclusivity and richness, updating seating options, and immersive history of the facility through enlightening signage, presented from a tribal perspective. To honor the dam’s history, a memorial will be added to celebrate both the tribal members who played a pivotal role in the dam’s construction and those individuals who tragically lost their lives during its construction in the 1930s. Additional effort is directed at adding handicap access down to the first landing as part of Phase Two.
This is a safety reminder to visitors that the hike is not for everyone. It is strenuous, the steps are rustic and there is loose gravel in some areas. Please use caution when navigating the steps in this rugged area. Stay safe and enjoy the new stair experience.
Please follow the posted gate hours and remain in the designated areas. Use information@energykeepersinc.com to send any questions. Please see the Energy Keepers Facebook page news section for updates.
About Energy Keepers, Inc.
Energy Keepers, Inc (EKI) 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, CSKT is nationally recognized as leaders 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.
