Flathead Lake will not reach full pool this summer, the agency that operates the SKQ Dam said on Thursday.  

Current forecasts suggest the lake will reach a maximum level of 2,892.3 feet on June 19, according to a press release issued by Energy Keepers, which manages the dam at the lake’s southern end. Full pool during the summer months is typically 2,893 feet. 

Energy Keepers blamed unseasonably warm and dry weather for the deficit. While snowpack reached average levels during the winter and early spring, recent temperature spikes caused rapid snowmelt. As of June 1, snowpack in the Flathead Basin was 59% of median.  

Dam operators implemented a drought management plan in early spring, including provisions to minimize outflows and retain greater volumes of spring runoff in the lake. On May 26, the lake was at the highest capacity allowed under the drought management plan. 

Still, Leah Hamilton, the water regulator for the federal Northwestern Division Reservoir Control Center, said the atypical weather conditions will make reaching full pool difficult, even with corrective measures. 

“Our goal was to coordinate actions to increase the chance of refill as early as possible while balancing needs for flood risk management,” Hamilton said in a statement. “However, it’s also important to understand how much weather influences refill in Pacific Northwest lakes and reservoirs. Every water year is different, and there is a lot of uncertainty in trying to accurately predict runoff several months into the future.” 

Energy Keepers currently predicts that the water level will reach a summertime low of 2,891.5 feet on July 12.  

This summer marks the third year in a row that the Flathead Valley has experienced elevated temperatures and low precipitation. The National Oceanic and Atmoshperic Administration predicts that the hot and dry trend will continue through September. 

In the June 5 press release, Energy Keepers advised lake users that the low water level might affect boat storage and dock access, though public boat ramps are expected to remain accessible. Hydroelectric energy generation will also be affected, with the SKQ dam expected to produce 10% less energy than normal this year. 

The summer lake level last fell below full pool in 2023 when a spat of warm spring weather caused an early snowmelt and reduced the availability of water during the summer months.  

Despite the low water level, the SKQ Dam continued some outflows from the lake to meet federal energy quotas and ensure healthy downstream conditions. While that decision drew sharp criticisms from many lakeshore residents, allegations of mismanagement were later dismissed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.   

But several state and federal lawmakers continue to push for stricter management of the lake’s water level during the summer months. U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke reintroduced the Fill the Lake Act early in the Legislative session. The bill proposes keeping Flathead Lake’s water level between 2,892 and 2,893 feet between June 15 and Sept. 15. 

Those levels are already codified through a 1965 Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but Zinke argued that additional legislation is necessary to prevent what he called a “another failure of management that leads to another catastrophically low pool.” The bill has not yet been scheduled for a hearing. 

Sen. Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, also successfully carried a resolution in the state Legislature, asking federal officials to “ensure that recreation needs [on Flathead Lake] be measured fairly compared to hydropower, fish and irrigation demands.” The resolution does not change any laws or policies, but a copy of the missive will be sent to key stakeholders in the lake’s management as a show of the Legislature’s position. 

In the press release, Energy Keepers confirmed that it will continue to provide updated forecasts of the lake level through June and July. Interested parties can view current and past forecasts at www.energykeepersinc.com/flathead-lake-data. 

Reporter Hailey Smalley may be reached at 758-4433 or [email protected].