Letter from Flathead County Commissioner Randy Brodehl, July 7, 2023, to Regional USBR Director Carrington
As you are aware, the Flathead Lake levels have dropped a foot in the past week and continue to drop. I addressed this in our recent letter to you and know you are in conversation with the Governor, Congressman Zinke, and Senator Daines. I understand the political aspects of all that is going on and understand your need to convene the Technical Management Team for their input. As a County Commissioner who, by the very nature of my position, is directly engaged with our water-impacted communities, I implore you to make an immediate operational decision to significantly increase the release from Hungry Horse Dam, so our community doesn’t lose irrigated crops and our recreational economic stability is not further destroyed.
Specifically, I ask the target for Flathead Lake levels to be increased to 12 inches below the full pool for the next 58 days. This will be sufficient to mitigate the agricultural concerns of our irrigators and the economic impacts on our recreation-based economy. This needs to be done operationally as soon as possible, with or without the TMT convening.