Kerr Dam to draft Flathead Lake to 2,884 feet this month

Kerr Dam’s outflow was 9,400 cubic feet per second and Flathead Lake’s elevation was 2,884.81 feet, which is 8.19 feet from full elevation, as of Feb. 20.

Flathead Lake’s levels were at 2,884.5 feet as of Monday afternoon according to the U.S. Geological Institute.

Representatives rom PPL Montana, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and Bonneville Power Administration conferred on Feb. 14 regarding the current and projected operation of the Kerr Project.

Stream flows for January were above average, 122 percent, and the flows to date in February have averaged 126 percent. The volume runoff forecast for the April to July period that was issued on Feb. 7 was 89 percent of average. The current snowpack in the Flathead basin is 92 percent of average.

The lake will be drafted to an elevation of about 2,884 feet by the end of the month and the draft will continue through the first half of April. The operation of the project and lake level decisions are subject to constant monitoring, re-evaluation and changes to fit weather patterns.

For more information, contact Deb Mullowney, PPL Montana, at 533-3508.