- Reclamation
- Columbia–Pacific Northwest Region
- Hungry Horse Dam
- Public Engagement
- Frequently Asked Questions
Flathead Basin Public Meeting
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t HH send more water to Flathead Lake when lake levels are low?
Reclamation has to operate Hungry Horse Dam to meet multiple obligations, including flood risk management and fish and wildlife conservation provided under the Endangered Species Act. And, it has to do so in a dynamic, unpredictable environment, with the input of multiple Federal, state, and tribal regulatory agencies, including those represented on the Technical Management Team.
Why does the Technical Management Team get to decide how Reclamation operates HH?
Ultimately, the Bureau of Reclamation is the decision maker for Hungry Horse operations, outside of any flood risk management operations, which are managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The TMT, however, is responsible for making recommendations on dam and reservoir operations.
How are you taking climate change into account when operating HH and SKQ dams?
Operations at HGH and SKQ evaluate on-the-ground conditions and forecasts to determine operations in any given year. As extreme events are experienced, they are adaptively managed in real-time, and they become part of the datasets that are used to generate forecasts. It is important to stress that even though individual extreme events may look a lot like what is expected to occur under climate change, individually they do not represent climate change. Climate change is the longer-term trend of events and shift in normal conditions over time.
What types of assessment are NOAA Weather Service conducting to better understand climate change in the Flathead basin?
Media Inquiries should be directed to Scott Smullen (NOAA Public Affairs) at 202-482-1097 or via email scott.smullen@noaa.gov and CC susan.buchanan@noaa.gov and nws.pa@noaa.gov.
Is there a way for me to monitor reservoir levels at HH?
The Bureau of Reclamation operates a network of automated hydrologic and meteorologic monitoring stations located throughout the Pacific Northwest. This network and its associated communications and computer systems are collectively called Hydromet. Remote data collection platforms transmit water and environmental data via radio and satellite to provide cost-effective, near-real-time water management capability. Hydromet can be found at Hydromet Columbia–Pacific Northwest Region | Bureau of Reclamation (usbr.gov).
How do I stay informed of the levels of Flathead Lake?
Energy Keepers, Incorporated, has a website at www.energykeerpersinc.com for news updates and lake level forecasts.
