The Interior department on Friday approved a request by Energy Keepers, Inc. to raise the water level in Flathead Lake this summer by adjusting minimum flows at the SKQ Dam.

Hot and dry spring weather has drastically depleted mountain snowpack that supports spring runoff into Flathead Lake. Projections during early June put the lake level nearly 3 feet below full pool by Aug. 31.

In response, officials with Energy Keepers -- the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes entity that manages the dam at Polson -- said it will implement a 45% reduction in the license-required minimum flows from 12,700 cfs to 7,000 cfs. The adjustment is expected to provide 46 days of lake access in the top 12 inches of full pool, and 62 days of access in the top 18 inches of full pool.

While the reduction will affect the lower river fishery and electricity production for the remaining days of June, the impacts will be offset in the last half of July and August with the shift of water volume in the lower river, according to Energy Keepers.

August lake elevations are still projected to decrease to nearly 3 feet below full pool by the end of the month.

The SKQ Dam operators said the plan balances multiple needs within the community. 

“This sacrifice is forecasted to keep lake levels within 12 inches of full pool through the end of July,” said Brian Lipscomb, CEO of EKI. “This will come at a financial cost for operations during the early summer, serve the minimums of robust fisheries, and allow more boat dock users to remain viable during a busy summer season.”

Energy Keepers officials said the Tribal Council voted Thursday to approve the effort to seek the variance from the U.S. Interior Department.

“Under challenging situations, we applaud our staff for presenting a solution,” said Council Chairman Michael Dolson. “We supported this action to be good stewards of the resources, good economic partners, and also good neighbors.”

The lake this summer will be accessible by public boat ramps, however, Energy Keepers warns that lakefront boat storage and dock access may be affected if the lower water level forecasts are realized.