Flathead Lake Data
July-29-2025_Lake-Data
Precipitation in July has been nearly 300% of normal. The streamflow forecast for this week (subject to change) estimates that the lake will remain in the top 12 inches through most of August.
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.
July-21-2025_Lake-Data
The streamflow forecast for this week (subject to change) estimates that the lake will remain in the top 12 inches through August 16 and in the top 18 inches for most of August.
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.
July-15-2025_Lake-Data
The water supply forecasts did not change much this week. Impacts to the lower river fishery and electricity production from reduced project outflows mid-June to mid-July will be offset in the last half of July and August with the shift of water volume in the lower river.
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.
July-7-2025_Lake-Data
Project outflows are still below the usual minimum in-stream flow requirement. The reduction is impactful to the lower river fishery and electricity production. Both impacts will be offset in the last half of July and August with the shift of water volume in the lower river.
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.
June-30-2025_Lake-Data
Project outflows are still far below the usual minimum in-stream flow requirement. The reduction is impactful to the lower river fishery and electricity production. Both impacts will be offset in the last half of July and August with the shift of water volume in the lower river.
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.
June-23-2025_Lake-Data
Project outflows are increasing slightly to avoid a surcharge of the reservoir. However, outflows are still far below the usual minimum in-stream flow requirement. The reduction is impactful to the lower river fishery and electricity production. Both impacts will be offset in the last half of July and August with the shift of water volume in the lower river.
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.
SKQ Drought Management Plan
Streamflow conditions in the Flathead Basin remain below normal and similar to 2023 and 2024 the project is being operated to increase the likelihood of meeting refill and minimum instream flow requirements (see SKQ’s drought management plan). January was incredibly dry in the basin and snowpack in the Northfork of 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.
