| Lake at operational full poolPPL MT press release, 6 July 2006 Representatives from the PPL Montana, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Bonneville Power Administration conferred on July 6, 2006, regarding current and projected operation of the Kerr Project. The current outflow is about 14,600 cubic feet per second (cfs) and the lake elevation, as of July 5, was 2892.74 feet, which is 0.26 feet from full elevation of 2893.0 feet. The project is operated taking into account the July volume runoff forecasts for the July through September period and current stream flows. The National Weather Service's July final volume runoff forecast for July through September for Flathead Lake is 101 percent of average. The natural stream flows for June averaged about 100 percent of normal. Based on current information, PPL Montana anticipates that inflows will be adequate to maintain the lake at recreational levels throughout the summer season. In March 2002, PPL Montana filed a drought management plan (DMP) with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior for approval. The department is currently conducting an environmental review of PPL Montana's proposal and considering alternatives. A final DMP has not been issued. 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 PPL Montana draft DMP criteria. If conditions dictate, an ad hoc consultation with the parties involved will occur prior to the next monthly call. For more information, contact Lance Elias, PPL Montana, at 406-533-3510.
Lake expected to reach 2892.5 by mid-JunePPL MT 8 June 2006 Representatives from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, PPL Montana, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Bonneville Power Administration, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Department of Interior conferred on June 6, 2006, regarding current and projected operation of the Kerr Project. The current outflow is about 24,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) and the lake elevation, as of June 5, was 2891.18 feet, which is 1.82 feet from full elevation of 2893.0 feet. The project is being operated based on the June volume runoff forecasts for the June through July period, the current snow pack and current stream flows. The June runoff forecast for Flathead Lake indicates that runoff is expected to be about 88 percent of average assuming normal precipitation in the June through July period. The current snow pack is about 75 percent of average for this time of year. The natural stream flow for the month of May was about 118 percent of average. A 1965 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Corps, which is incorporated into Article 43 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license for the Kerr project, requires lake levels to be regulated for flood control purposes consistent with the Corps' directives. Among other things, the MOU and the FERC license for the Kerr project require the releases to be maintained until after the danger of exceeding elevation 2893 feet has passed. Based on current conditions, pursuant to instructions from the Corps, PPL Montana will be releasing water in the coming weeks and anticipates achieving a lake elevation of 2892.5 feet by June 15th and 2893.0 feet before June 30th. Webmaster's note. The Lakers recommend keeping the lake no lower than 2892.5 during the summer recreation season. The lake's historical average summer elevation is 2892.75, which is operational full pool. Because exceeding 2893 violates the license for Kerr Dam, the dam's operators try to keep the lake a few inches below 2893 so that the runoff from heavy rains can be absorbed without exceeding 2893.
In March 2002, PPL Montana filed a drought management plan with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior for approval. The Secretary is currently conducting an environmental review of PPL Montana's proposal and considering alternatives. A final plan will not be in place before the 2006 draft and refill 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 PPL Montana draft plan criteria. If conditions dictate, an ad hoc consultation with the parties involved will occur prior to the next monthly call. For more information, contact Lance Elias, PPL Montana at 406-533-3510.
Flathead snowpack at 101 percent. Normal runoff predicted.PPL MT Press Release, 7 April 2006 Representatives from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, PPL Montana, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bonneville Power Administration, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Department of Interior conferred on April 5, 2006, regarding current and projected operation of the Kerr Project. The current outflow is about 9,100 cubic feet per second (cfs) and the lake elevation, as of April 6, was 2884.21 feet, which is 8.79 feet from full elevation of 2893.0 feet. The project is being operated based on the April volume runoff forecasts for the April through July period, the current snow pack and current stream flows. The April runoff forecast for Flathead Lake indicates that runoff is expected to be about 101 percent of average assuming normal precipitation in the April through July period. The current snow pack is 101 percent of average for this time of year. The natural stream flow for the month of March was about 114 percent of average. Based on current conditions, PPL Montana plans to release the maximum amount of water possible and estimates an end of April elevation of about 2886.7 feet. However, the operation of the project, and in particular, decisions with respect to lake levels, are subject to constant monitoring, re-evaluation and change as weather patterns themselves may rapidly change. Weather conditions will be monitored throughout April and appropriate operational changes will be made, if necessary. In March 2002, PPL Montana filed a drought management plan with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior for approval. The Secretary is currently conducting an environmental review of PPL Montana's proposal and considering alternatives. A final plan will not be in place before the 2006 draft and refill 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 PPL Montana draft plan criteria. If conditions dictate, an ad hoc consultation with the parties involved will occur prior to the next monthly call.
Lake down to 2884.55, may reach 2883.5PPL MT News Release, 9 March 2006 Representatives from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, PPL Montana, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs conferred on March 8, 2006, regarding current and projected operation of the Kerr Project. The current outflow is about 10,500 cubic feet per second (cfs) and the lake elevation, as of March 8, was 2884.55 feet, which is 8.45 feet from full elevation of 2893.0 feet. The project is being operated based on the March final volume runoff forecasts for the April through July period, the current snow pack and current natural stream flows. The March final runoff forecast for Flathead Lake prepared by the National Weather Service indicates that runoff is expected to be about 105 percent of average assuming normal precipitation April through July. The current snow pack is 104 percent of average for this time of year. The natural streamflow for the month of February was about 112 percent of average. PPL Montana plans to lower the reservoir to about 2883.5 feet by the end of March. However, the operation of the project, and in particular, decisions with respect to lake levels, are subject to constant monitoring, re-evaluation and change as weather patterns themselves may rapidly change. Weather conditions will be monitored throughout March and appropriate operational changes will be made, if necessary. In March 2002, PPL Montana filed a drought management plan with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior for approval. The secretary is currently conducting an environmental review of PPL Montana's proposal and considering alternatives. A final plan will not be in place before the 2006 draft and refill 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 PPL Montana draft plan criteria. If conditions dictate, an ad hoc consultation with the parties involved will occur prior to the next monthly call. A new official runoff forecast will be available in early April 2006. The April forecast will be evaluated to determine more definitively the operations through April with regards to maximum lake draft before refill, flood control and minimum flow release requirements. For more information, contact Lance Elias, PPL Montana at 406-533-3510.
January Snowpack and Runoff Forecast at 94 & 93 PercentPPL MT News Release, 13 January 2006 Representatives from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, PPL Montana, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bonneville Power Administration, and the Bureau of Reclamation conferred on January 12, 2006, regarding current and projected operation of the Kerr Project. The current outflow is about 6,600 cubic feet per second (cfs) and the lake elevation, as of January 11, was 2887.73 feet, which is 5.27 feet from full elevation of 2893.0 feet. The project is being operated taking into account the January final volume runoff forecasts for the April through July period, the current snow pack and current natural stream flows. The final runoff forecast for Flathead Lake is 93 percent of average, the current snow pack is 94 percent of average for this time of year and the current natural stream flow is about 177 percent of average. 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 2006 draft and refill 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 PPL Montana draft DMP criteria. A new official runoff forecast will be available in early February 2006. The February final forecast will be evaluated to determine Kerr operations through February with regard to flood control, lake refill and minimum flow release requirements. For more information, contact Lance Elias, PPL Montana at 406-533-3510.
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