SKQ Dam
Seli’š Ksanka Qlispe’ Dam | |
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GWh annually |
The Seli’š Ksanka Qlispe’ Dam, also known as SKQ Dam, (formerly known as the Kerr Dam) is a concrete gravity-arch dam located at river mile 72 of the Flathead River (116 river kilometer). Built in 1938, it raises the level and increases the size of Flathead Lake near Polson, Montana. The dam was designed to generate hydroelectricity but also serves recreational and irrigation uses.
The dam was originally named after Frank Kerr, president of the
Development
The dam project was initially privately undertaken by Rocky Mountain Power to generate hydroelectric power in the area; it started construction in 1930. With revenues declining because of the Great Depression, the company halted construction in 1931. Montana State Treasurer James Brett went to a meeting in Atlanta in 1934 to ask President Franklin D. Roosevelt for $5,000,000 to complete the dam. Roosevelt approved the money for the project; this was in keeping with his support of the Works Progress Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps, which provided jobs for infrastructure and public buildings across the country.
Brett returned to Montana and a hero's welcome. In 1936, the
In 2015, NorthWestern Energy acquired the power plant from
Operation
The dam raised the existing
The dam and its related
During a historically dry summer of 2023, diminished inflows and required minimum downstream water flows resulted in record low water levels.[11]
In popular culture
The plot of the novel Wind from an Enemy Sky by
See also
References
- ^ "Clock ticking down to Kerr Dam's historic takeover by Indian tribes". Missoulian. April 25, 2015. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
- ^ "NorthWest Hydro Acquisition" (PDF). NorthWest Energy. p. 3. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
- ^ "Tribal council announces new name for dam", Streamed live by Salish Kootenai College, 5 September 2015.
- ISBN 978-0-374-98405-2.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link - ^ McDonald, Rob (September 4, 2015). "Energy Keepers, Inc., successfully pays conveyance price for Kerr Dam". Energy Keepers, Inc. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
- ^ "Energy Keepers, Inc". Retrieved February 4, 2023.
- ^ Lipbscomb, Brian (August 27, 2015). "We are ready: Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes prepare to assume control of Kerr Dam". Char-Koosta News. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
- ^ Foust, Justin; Kruttoff, Benett. "Kerr Dam essay". The Lake County Montana Directory. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
- ^ "Panel to discuss Flathead Lake water management". Daily Inter Lake. March 12, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
- ^ McGregor Meadows Waterfowl Production Area Environmental Assessment (PDF) (Report). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. May 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 11, 2012.
- ^ Heston, Kate (February 8, 2024). "Energy Keepers acted appropriately in dealing with Flathead Lake's record low water levels, review finds". Daily Inter Lake. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
- ^ Vince Devlin (March 28, 2012). "Film shares Arlee teacher's success at instilling tribal perspective". The Missoulian. Retrieved September 6, 2012.