Zinke Fights for Flathead Lake Water Levels, Delivers Good News
It sounds like a crisis on Flathead Lake has been averted, as Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke (R-MT) secures an agreement from the US Department of Interior and the CSKT.
Here's what Zinke shared on social media late last week.
Rep. Zinke: "Thanks to an agreement between Interior Secretary Burgum and the CSKT, the dam will reduce flows by 45% and keep the lake within 12-inches of full pool preventing the catastrophic prediction of 3-feet below full pool. I appreciate the tribe and the administration hearing OUR concerns."
Zinke joined us on the radio first thing Friday morning. He talked about being the son of a plumber and how this is just simple plumbing. They just need to lower the releases from the dam downstream near Polson, and increase releases from the upstream Hungry Horse Reservoir.
Rep. Zinke: "It's inexcusable that you can't use science, best science, to keep the lake full. And there's different tensions. There's electricity, there's power generation, there's downstream interests- which are the fisheries and salmon folks downstream for minimum flows, there's upstream tension. If you wait too long, then you're going to blow the fish out on the on the upper part. So guys- use better management...it's a matter of just easy plumbing to keep that lake full, to make sure that people recreate and enjoy the summer and the great Flathead Lake, as we should. Keep it full pool from June 15 to the 15th of September, everyone's happy. It can be done. It should be done, and it must be done."
Later, we also got to catch up with Flathead County Commissioner Randy Brodehl. Commissioner Brodehl also highlighted concerns about the water levels on Bitterroot Lake.
He concurred with Zinke's assessment and also talked about the need to codify key provisions of this agreement through something like the Fill the Lake Act that Zinke previously introduced. He also asked why none of the $50 million that was included in the CSKT Water Compact for irrigation infrastructure has been put to use yet at places like Bitterroot Lake and other locations downstream.
Full audio of both conversations is below.