It looks like another year where Flathead Lake won’t get to full pool, but it’ll be close. Energy Keepers, operators of the Selis Ksanka Ql’ispe Dam (pictured), at the base of the lake, projects our top level will be about 8 ½ inches below full pool on Thursday, June 19th. After that, it’ll slowly drop another 9 inches by July 12th.
Flathead Lake is the largest, natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi but warm, dry conditions and unusually fast run-off this spring has forced Energy Keepers fill the Lake more quickly so that they can keep there hydroelectric commitments downstream as the summer progresses. Energy Keepers, owned by the Salish & Kootenai Tribes, is preparing for a diminished water supply towards the end of the summer.
