$1.25
your homegrown newspaper July 12, 2023
Vol. 19, No. 43
GPCF pg. 8
Paddle pg. 13
Low Flathead Lake levels cause deep concern By Taylor Davison / Valley Journal
Independence Day pg. 14
FLATHEAD LAKE — As lake water levels continue to dip, several political leaders have called for action to remedy the situation from both state and federal levels. According to water data gathered by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), on Friday morning ( July 7), Flathead
Lake has a surface water level of 2891.43 feet at Salish Point in Polson. This is a historic low for the lake, 1.57 feet or nearly 19 inches below the full pool mark of 2893 feet. According to Energy Keepers in charge of the SKQ Dam, the unseasonal warmth and rain of May contributed to a premature depletion of snowpack in the northern reaches of
w w w.va l le yj our na l.net
the Flathead Basin that would normally support high water flows through June and early July. Although Energy Keepers stated they worked with the Army Corp of Engineers to ensure the high May runoff was captured for the lake, the water didn’t last as the snowpack was below average according to data gathered by the USDA. This has led to mod-
SUMMER GODDARD / VALLEY JOURNAL
erate to severe drought conditions throughout Lake County, with USGS stream gauges of local rivers measuring at under 60% of normal. Since June 3, SKQ operators have limited Flathead Lake’s outflow to the lower Flathead River to 12,700 cubic feet per second (cfs), the minimum amount allowed per the dam’s
see page 2