New ‘Necessary Sacrifices’ Coming to Flathead Lake

BUTTE, MT - Western Montana is running dry—again—and this time, the pain isn’t subtle.

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If you’ve spent time at Flathead Lake lately, you’ve probably seen it firsthand: boat ramps ending in dust, docks hanging awkwardly above low water, and frustrated lakeside business owners doing their best to keep smiling.

But beneath the surface, a quiet battle is playing out. One that pits recreation against electricity, business against biology, and local comfort against regional survival.

This summer, for the second time in three years, Flathead Lake is coming up short—as reported by Justin Franz with Montana Free Press.

And not just by a few inches. Projections now show the lake could be nearly three feet below its full summer pool by the end of August.

For locals who depend on every drop—whether to launch a pontoon, fuel a fishing charter, or irrigate crops—it’s a gut punch. But according to Brian Lipscomb, the man caught in the middle, it’s a necessary one.

Why Flathead Lake Water Levels Are Dropping

Flathead Lake usually starts the year at its lowest level—around 2,884 feet—and fills throughout spring.

It normally hits full pool (2,893 feet) in June and stays near that level until after Labor Day. But persistent drought across the region has upended that routine.

Even a surprise June snowstorm that dusted Whitefish’s Big Mountain and brought over three inches of rain to the valleys wasn’t enough to reverse course.

The lake remains low, and hot, dry weather continues.

How the Séliš Ksanka QÍispé Dam Is Managing the Crisis

Brian Lipscomb is CEO of Energy Keepers, the tribal-owned company that operates the Séliš Ksanka QÍispé Dam near Polson.

In June, Energy Keepers received federal approval to reduce dam outflows by 45%—from 12,700 to 7,000 cubic feet per second—in a strategic effort to conserve lake levels.

By doing this, the lake can remain within a foot of full pool for 46 days and within 18 inches for 62 days.

Without action, it would have stayed that close for just nine days.

What Reduced Dam Flows Mean for Flathead Lake

These emergency flow reductions are a double-edged sword.

While they buy precious time for Flathead Lake, they also impact everything downstream—namely river ecosystems and hydroelectric energy production.

And despite the adjustments, the lake is still projected to sit three feet below full pool by August 31.

Local Business Owners and Boaters Push Back

Some locals say that’s not enough.

The National Organization to Save Flathead Lake argues more could be done to preserve summer recreation, particularly for dock users, lakeside businesses, and irrigators. The group is pushing for outflows to match inflows for the rest of summer.

They’ve even suggested the federal government release additional water from Hungry Horse Reservoir to help raise Flathead by a foot.

What to Expect for Flathead Lake in Late Summer 2025

The Save Flathead Lake group claims that a five-foot drop in Hungry Horse could raise Flathead by one foot, an exchange they believe is worth it for the regional economy and public safety on the lake.

Unless there's a major change in the weather, Flathead Lake will continue to fall through August.

Boat access may get trickier.

Docks may become unusable.

And tourism will likely take a hit.

Energy Keepers is trying to hold the line—but the forecast is grim.

Long-Term Outlook: Adapting to a Drier Montana

Lipscomb believes this summer may just be a preview. “This is a reality that we’re just going to have to adjust to,” he said. “Our world is changing.”

If that’s true, Montanans may need to change, too—from how we manage water to how we define a successful summer on Flathead.