Flathead Lake Levels
Flathead Lake Major Inflows, Outflows, and Elevation
Major inflows vs. outflow
A simple view of water flowing into Flathead Lake from four major rivers, compared with measured outflow at Buffalo Bridge and current lake elevation.
On July 23, 2025 KPAX Montana reported that Energy Keepers Inc. had updated their lake level forecast for August 2025.
Above-average precipitation and cooler-than-normal temperatures since July 1 have drastically changed Flathead Lake’s water level outlook for the month of August. “Two-hundred to 300 percent of normal for rainfall for the month of July at some reporting stations here in the Flathead Basin,” said Energy Keepers Incorporated CEO Brian Lipscomb.
“So that rainfall is really what’s allowed this to happen, where we can hold the lake higher in the top foot through about the middle of August, third week of August and then right now with current forecasts it will be about 18 inches below full pool by Labor Day Weekend.”
Lipscomb said that the forecasted lake level is around normal for Labor Day.
Read the full story here
Energy Keepers Incorporated published an editorial addressing Flathead Lake Levels on June 17, 2025.
https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2025/jun/17/summer-lake-level-not-just-a-local-issue/
On June 13, 2025 the Department of Interior approved a temporary modification (from mid-June to mid-July 2025) from the minimum instream flow requirements under Article 56 of the Federal Energy RegulatoryCommission license for the Séliš Ksanka Qlispé Project.
The full letter from DOI can be read here.
On Friday June 13, 2025 EKI announced an agreement to bring some relief to low Flathead Lake levels. The agreement with the U.S. Department of the Interior will result in a 45% reduction in the license required minimum flows from SKQ Dam.
On June 5, 2025, Energy Keepers Incorporated released a public statement about anticipated low lake levels for the summer of 2025. The Flathead Lakers and our partners are actively monitoring this situation and will continue to provide updated information as it becomes available.
Se̓liš Ksanka Qĺispe̓ (SKQ) Dam Operations
Energy Keepers, Inc. (EKI) — owns and operates the SKQ dam.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) oversees EKI’s operations of the dam and this is the manual.
Water & Snowpack
Lake Level & Stream Flow Data
USGS - Current Lake Level
Flathead Lake Inflow
USGS - Swan River near Bigfork
Flathead Lake Outflow
Snowpack
Education
Although this plan is not directly related to the dam operation, it is important to remember that drought concern is statewide.
The Project License that guides EKI’s operation of the SKQ Dam requires a Drought Management Plan (DMP). In an attempt to satisfy that requirement, in 2002, PPL Montana (the operator at the time) proposed a DMP. The Bureau of Indian Affairs conducted an Environmental Impact Study (EIS). None of the actions proposed in the EIS were adopted. While the information is dated, the document is an example of the study needed and the process necessary to someday have a DMP.
Lake shore regulations
With climate change and changes in water management that affect summer lake levels, Many Flathead Lake shoreline property owners are considering new modifications to their lake access structures. Permits are required before beginning construction. While contractors often apply and secure the required permits, the property owner is ultimately responsible if work is done without a permit.
If your property is within the Flathead Indian Reservation boundary, you need a Shoreline Protection Permit from CSKT (https://www.csktnrd.org/ep/shoreline-protection) for any work planned lakeward from the full pool shoreline along with a Lakeshore Protection Permit from Lake County for any work planned within 20 feet of the full pool shoreline on land. Additionally, if your project involves any dredging or filling lakeward from the full pool shoreline you need a 404 permit from the United States Army Corp of Engineers and may need a floodplain permit from Lake County.
If your property is in Lake County, but outside of the Flathead Indian Reservation boundary, you need a Lakeshore Protection Permit from Lake County for work planned lakeward from the full pool shoreline and for any work planned within 20 feet of the full pool shoreline on land. Additionally, if your project involves any dredging or filling lakeward from the full pool shoreline you need a 404 permit from the United States Army Corp of Engineers and may need a floodplain permit from Lake County.
If your property is in Flathead County, you need a Lakeshore Protection Permit from Flathead County for work planned lakeward from the full pool shoreline and for any work planned within 20 feet of the full pool shoreline on land. Additionally, if your project involves any dredging or filling lakeward from the full pool shoreline you need a 404 permit from the United States Army Corp of Engineers and may need a floodplain permit from Flathead County.
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Shoreline Protection Office:
301 Main St. | Polson, MT | 59860 | 406-883-2888 x7212
Email Nicole Pablo ( nicole.pablo@cskt.org ) for an application.
Lake County Planning and Zoning Department:
106 4th Avenue E | Courthouse Room 315 | Polson, MT | 59860 | 406-883-7235 | Website
News & Opinions
Recently EKI hired a Communications Director to help with disseminating information relevant to the lake level. EKI has added a tab on their website called Flathead-Lake-Data that has a range of forecast graph, updated weekly, that you might find helpful.
2024
5/6/24 - Flathead Beacon - Energy Keepers Receive Additional Variance for Flathead Lake Levels; Tester Calls for ‘Immediate Action’
Lake County Leader - Energy Keepers offers weekly “Range of Forecast”
Flathead Beacon - Energy Keepers Receives Approval for Flathead Lake Level Variation
March 20th - FERC Response to Lake County Commissioners’ March 1st Petition
Flathead Beacon - Tribal, Federal Water Managers Host Informational Meeting on Flathead Basin Operations
Daily Inter Lake - Energy Keepers acted appropriately in dealing with Flathead Lake's record low water levels, review finds
2023
Daily Montanan - Flathead Lake at historic low, but anomalies could be ‘new normal’
Daily Inter Lake - Raising Flathead Lake's water level a complicated conundrum
Lake County Leader - Lake level points to another inconvenient truth
Flathead Lake Biological Station - Diving into 2023 Flathead Lake Level Data
August 25th - Energy Keepers, Inc. letter
Daily Inter Lake - Zinke's Fill the Lake Act meets mixed reactions
