5 September 2003 PPL MT Press Release Flathead Lake is currently at elevation 2892.55 feet, which is 0.45 feet from full elevation. The current outflow is approximately 3,400 cubic feet per second (cfs). The summer drought has reduced the inflows into Flathead Lake to a minimum. The outflows have been decreased reduced to match the inflows to maintain the current lake elevation. The regional coordinated planning keeps the lake within 6 inches of full pool until November. The lake will begin drafting in November and will be close to elevation 2888.0 by the end of December. In March 2002, PPL Montana filed a drought management plan (DMP) with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior (Interior) for her approval. Interior is currently conducting an environmental review of PPL Montana's proposal and considering alternatives. A final DMP is not expected ...[to] be in place before the 2004 lake refill period and summer period. In the interim, the operation will continue to be evaluated and adjusted, as appropriate, through continued consultation with the parties. For more information, contact Lance Elias, PPL Montana at 406-533-3510.
Lake Will Stay High Through Summer Season16 July 2003 PPL MT Press Release Representatives from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, PPL Montana, Bureau of Indians Affairs and the Department of Interior recently met by conference call to discuss the projected summer operation of the Kerr Project. The current outflow is approximately 10,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) and the current lake elevation, as of July 15, 2003, was 2892.75 feet, which is 0.25 feet from full elevation of 2893.0 feet. The June runoff forecast from the National Weather Servic's Northwest River Forecast Center (NWRFC) for Flathead Lake inflow for the June-July period and the June-September period was, respectively 74% and 75% of normal. Based on currently available data, the remainder of the forecasted runoff volume of water is expected to be adequate to meet minimum flow releases and maintain full pool through the summer recreation season. In March 2002, PPL Montana filed a drought management plan (DMP) with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior (Interior) for her approval. Interior is currently conducting an environmental review of PPL Montana's proposal and considering alternatives. A final DMP will not be in place before the 2003 lake refill period and summer period. In the interim, the operation will continue to be evaluated and adjusted, as appropriate, through continued consultation with the parties. For more information, contact Lance Elias, PPL Montana at 406-533-3510.
PPL Will Fill Lake, Meet Minimum Flows13 June 2003 PPL MT Press Release Representatives from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, PPL Montana, US Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation recently met by conference call to discuss the projected June operation of the Kerr Project. The current outflow is approximately 16,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) and the current lake elevation, as of June 12, 2003, was 2892.56 feet, which is 0.44 feet from full elevation of 2893.0 feet. The June runoff forecast from the National Weather Services Northwest River Forecast Center (NWRFC) for Flathead Lake inflow for the June-July period is 74% of normal. Based on currently available data, the forecasted runoff volume of water is expected to be adequate to meet minimum flow releases, refill the lake and maintain full pool through the summer recreation season. The Corps of Engineers has concurred with PPL Montana's plan to fill the project by approximately June 15, 2003 since the risk of flooding due to weather or residual runoff is low. In March 2002, PPL Montana filed a drought management plan (DMP) with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior (Interior) for her approval. Interior is currently conducting an environmental review of PPL Montana's proposal and considering alternatives. A final DMP will not be in place before the 2003 lake refill period and summer period. In the interim, the operation will continue to be evaluated and adjusted, as appropriate, through continued consultation with the parties. For more information, contact Lance Elias, PPL Montana at 406-533-3510.
16 May 2003 PPL MT Press Release: Representatives from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, PPL Montana, US Army Corps of Engineers, the FERC, Bureau of Reclamation and Bonneville Power Administration recently met by conference call to discuss the projected May operation of the Kerr Project. The current outflow is approximately 16,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) and the current lake elevation, as of May 15, 2003, was 2888.60 feet, which is 4.40 feet from full elevation of 2893.0 feet. The estimated elevation for the end of May is about 2891.0 feet. The May runoff forecast from the National Weather Service's Northwest River Forecast Center (NWRFC) for Flathead Lake inflow for the May – July period is 80% of normal and snowpack for the Flathead drainage, as a percentage of average for this same time of year is 96%. The high percentage is more a result of a slower then normal snowmelt rather than an increase in the amount of snow at this time of year. Based on currently available data, the forecasted runoff volume of water is expected to be adequate to meet minimum flow releases and refill the lake. The present outflow will be adjusted as required to keep the lake from filling too fast to avoid any potential for local flooding later in the runoff period. The parties to the call agreed to assess the operations on an on-going basis taking into account the subsequent volume runoff forecasts and developing conditions. In March 2002, PPL Montana filed a drought management plan (DMP) with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior (Interior) for her approval. Interior is currently conducting an environmental review of PPL Montana's proposal and considering alternatives. A final DMP will not be in place before the 2003 lake refill period and summer period. In the interim, the operation will continue to be evaluated and adjusted, as appropriate, through continued consultation with the pa[rties].
14 April 2003 PPL Press Release Representatives from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, PPL Montana, US Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Interior, the FERC and Bonneville Power Administration recently met by conference call to discuss the projected April operation of the Kerr Project. The current outflow is approximately 10,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) and the current lake elevation, as of April 13, 2003, was 2887.29 feet, which is 5.71 feet from full elevation of 2893.0 feet. The estimated elevation for the end of April is 2887.0 feet. The April runoff forecast from the National Weather Service's Northwest River Forecast Center (NWRFC) for Flathead Lake inflow for the April – July period is 81% of normal and snowpack for the Flathead drainage, as a percentage of average for this same time of year is 94%. The April runoff forecast has increased from the 67% March forecast and the snowpack has increased from the 86% reported in March Kerr Operations Update. The current lake elevation is higher than normal because of the concerns raised by the drought conditions experienced at the end of 2002 extending into 2003 and because of the low first quarter 2003 volume runoff forecasts. The April runoff forecast is an improvement from March. Based on currently available data, the forecasted runoff volume of water is expected to be adequate to meet minimum flow releases and lake refill requirements. The present outflow will be maintained at least until the late April runoff forecast update is received to avoid any potential for local flooding later in the runoff period. The parties to the call agreed to assess the operations on a bi-weekly basis taking into account the subsequent volume runoff forecasts and developing conditions. In March 2002, PPL Montana filed a drought management plan (DMP) with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior (Interior) for her approval. Interior is currently conducting an environmental review of PPL Montana's proposal and considering alternatives. A final DMP will not be in place before the 2003 lake refill period and summer period. In the interim, the operation will continue to be evaluated and adjusted, as appropriate, through continued consultation with the parties. For more information, contact Lance Elias, PPL Montana at 406-533-3510.
21 February 2003 PPL MT Press Release Representatives from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, PPL Montana, US Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation and the FERC recently met by conference call to discuss the projected operation of the Kerr Project. The outflow is currently about 6,500 cubic feet per second (cfs) and the current lake elevation, as of February 20, 2003, was 2888.05 feet, which is 4.95 feet from full elevation of 2893.0 feet. The project is being operated to be close to elevation 2888.0 feet by the end of February. [Webmaster's note. The lake was at 2887.78 on 28 February, and at 2887.45 on 10 March.]
The project is being operated conservatively in response to the lack of precipitation and snowpack accumulation and the low streamflows for the last several months. The February runoff forecast from the National Weather Service's Northwest River Forecast Center (NWRFC) for Flathead Lake inflow for the April[ –through] July period is 70% of normal and snowpack for the Flathead drainage, as a percentage of average for this time of year is 71%. In March 2002, PPL Montana filed a drought management plan (DMP) with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior (Interior) for her approval. Interior is currently conducting an environmental review of PPL Montana's proposal and considering alternatives. A final DMP will not be in place before the 2003 recreational season. In the interim, the operation will continue to be evaluated and adjusted, as appropriate, in consultation with the parties involved and with consideration of the PPLM draft DMP criteria. A new runoff forecast will be available in early March 2003. The March final forecast will be evaluated to determine Kerr operations through March with regard to flood control, lake refill and minimum flow release requirements. In normal water years, PPL Montana would draft the lake down to a lower elevation during the winter. However, consistent with PPL Montana's DMP proposal, there is a significant possibility that the lake will only be drafted to elevation 2887.0 feet this winter if the low inflows and dry conditions continue to persist. PPL Montana has identified this end of February elevation as an appropriate lake level to balance water conservation in the lake against the need for additional storage capacity to absorb spring runoff volumes. This conservative operation will result in a higher than normal lake elevations during the winter, which creates potential impact to docks caused by ice buildup. Dock owners are encouraged to be aware of this possibility and take whatever precautionary measures are available to protect their docks given the higher lake elevations that will be experienced this winter if present drought conditions continue. For more information, contact Lance Elias, PPL Montana at 406-533-3510.
16 January 2003 PPL MT Press Release Representatives from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, PPL Montana, US Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Indian Affairs, US Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation and the Montana Congressional delegation recently met by conference call to discuss the projected operation of the Kerr Project. The outflow is currently at 3,500 cubic feet per second (cfs) and the current lake elevation, as of January 15, 2003, was 2888.12 feet, which is 4.88 feet from full elevation of 2893.0 feet. The project is being operated conservatively in response to the lack of precipitation and snowpack accumulation and the low streamflows for the last several months. The January runoff forecast from the National Weather Service's Northwest River Forecast Center (NWRFC) for Flathead Lake inflow for the AprJuly period is 71% of normal. This runoff volume is based on receiving normal precipitation through the period. The snowpack for the Flathead drainage, as a percentage of average for this time of year, is only 59%. The lower inflows have raised concerns regarding water availability. Responding to these concerns, PPL Montana is taking a conservative approach and has reduced outflows from the dam to a minimum to retain water in the lake. Weather conditions will be monitored throughout the month of January and appropriate operational changes will be made, if necessary. In March 2002, PPL Montana filed a drought management plan (DMP) with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior (Interior) for her approval. Interior is currently conducting an environmental review of PPL Montana's proposal and considering alternatives. A final DMP will not be in place before the 2003 recreational season. In the interim, the operation will continue to be evaluated and adjusted, as appropriate, in consultation with the parties involved and with consideration of the PPLM draft DMP criteria. A new official runoff forecast will be available in early February 2003. The February formal forecast will be evaluated to determine Kerr operations through February with regard to flood control, lake refill and minimum flow release requirements. In normal water years, PPL Montana would draft the lake down to a lower elevation during the winter. However, consistent with PPL Montana's DMP proposal, there is a significant possibility that the lake will not be drafted below elevation 2888.0 feet this winter if the low inflows and dry conditions continue to persist. PPL Montana has identified this elevation as an appropriate lake level to balance water conservation in the lake against the need for additional storage capacity to absorb spring runoff volumes. This conservative operation will result in a higher than normal lake elevations during the winter, which creates potential impact to docks caused by ice build up. Dock owners are encouraged to be aware of this possibility and take whatever precautionary measures are available to protect their docks given the higher lake elevations that will be experienced this winter if present drought conditions continue. For more information, contact Lance Elias, PPL Montana at 406-533-3510.
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