January was incredibly dry in the basin and snowpack in the Flathead is low. However, there are still snow building months ahead.
Both weather and streamflows are highly uncertain. A warm and rainy event can rapidly increase streamflows in the spring, and similarly a cold and dry event can keep the streamflows quite low compared to normal. Temperatures, precipitation, and snowpack conditions such as density, all play a part in determining how high or low stream flows move as well as the timing of the runoff. If an early runoff is detected, EKI will coordinate flood risk management deviations with the USACE as needed to refill the lake.
SKQ project outflows and the Flathead Lake elevation are dependent on many variables including lake inflows, weather, the demand for electricity, and non-power constraints such as the downstream fishery and flood risk management needs.