On this week’s Montana Outdoor Podcast, your host Downrigger Dale sits down with Brian Lipscomb, CEO of Energy Keepers, Inc. and a tribal member, for a conversation that adds important context to the dam and hydroelectric facility on Flathead Lake.
Energy Keepers, Inc. owns and operates the dam and hydroelectric project on Flathead Lake and is part of a group of companies owned by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
In the episode, Dale shares how much he learned from Brian about the facility’s history—including the dam’s renaming to the Séliš Ksanka Ql̓ispé Hydroelectric Project—and why the discussion challenged assumptions many listeners may have had.
Among the topics covered:
- Background and history of the dam and hydroelectric project on Flathead Lake
- Why Flathead Lake stayed so full much longer this year than it usually does
- What lake levels might be at this spring and summer (as discussed in the podcast)
- How to pronounce Séliš Ksanka Ql̓ispé
- Listener questions sent in to the show
Dale also notes a sobering piece of history mentioned in the conversation: 13 tribal members died during the construction of the dam.
If you want to watch the podcast, use the show’s link where it says “click here to watch this podcast.”
Helpful links & resources mentioned
- Learn more about Energy Keepers (use the show’s “Click Here” link)
- Energy Keepers: latest water level and water flow data (use the show’s link)
- NOAA: Northwest River Forecast Center ESP Water Supply Volumes (use the show’s link)
- Energy Keepers Facebook page (use the show’s link)
- USGS Flathead Lake Elevation Gauge (use the show’s link)
- USGS Flathead River flows below the dam (use the show’s link)
- USDA NRCS Snow Water Equivalent for Flathead Lake (use the show’s link)
- NOAA Weather Prediction Center (use the show’s link)
- Watch the recent NOAA podcast (use the show’s link)
Questions?
- Contact Energy Keepers via email (use the show’s link)
- Email “Rigger” (use the show’s link)