The plan is being prepared by consultants for the Bureau of Indian Affairs - and is intended to create a fair and equitable balance of water during drought periods while meeting the requirements of Article 60 of the Kerr Hydroelectric Project license.
In severe drought years, conflicts occur between requirements to preserve in-stream flows in the lower Flathead River to protect tribal resources and maintenance of a full pool in the lake during summer to satisfy recreational needs.
The meetings will be in Kalispell on Tuesday, Aug. 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Red Lion Inn, 20 North Main St., and in Polson on Wednesday, Aug. 30, at 6:30 p.m. in the City Library Community Meeting Room.
Public comment also may be submitted in writing until Sept. 29. The document itself and information on submitting comments is available at the Polson City Library and the Flathead County Library, or online at www.flatheadlake-eis.com/.
The draft EIS proposes two alternatives for water-level management in Flathead Lake during drought. (The lake level in Flathead Lake is controlled by the federally licensed operator, PPL-Montana, at the Kerr Dam hydroelectric project just south of Polson.)
Alternative 1 would reserve all the available water during drought in summer for in-stream flows in the Flathead River downstream from Flathead Lake, to provide water adequate water for the river's aquatic life.
Alternative 2 would allow PPL to seek permission during predicted drought years to deviate from in-stream flow requirements, retaining some water in the lake to improve recreational access. The summer target elevation would be 2,892 feet, one foot less than the 2,893 feet that has been considered the full-pool goal for summer recreational use.
Neither the Department of Interior nor the Bureau of Indian Affairs has designated Alternative 1 or 2 as an agency “preferred” alternative.
Reporter John Stromnes can be reached at 1-800-366-7186 or jstromnes@missoulian.com
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