This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with the CEO of Energy Keepers and Tribal Member, Brian Lipscomb. 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. We are certain that you will be very surprised by what you learn when you watch this podcast! As your host Rigger put it, “I was amazed by everything that Brian told me about the dam and hydroelectric facility on Flathead Lake, from the history of the dam (which was renamed the Séliš Ksanka Ql̓ispé Hydroelectric Project) to the fact that Energy Keepers is the first tribally owned company to own and operate a major hydroelectric facility in the United States and list goes on from there. In fact, did you know that sadly,13 tribal members died during the construction of the Dam?” There is ton fascinating information you will learn, including answers to questions that a bunch of you asked when you emailed Rigger. For example, you will learn why Flathead Lake stayed so full much longer this year than it usually does. Brian also talks about what the water levels on the lake might be this spring and summer. Brian even will teach you how to pronounce the name Séliš Ksanka Ql̓ispé! Plus, when you watch the podcast you will learn why Brian said, “I’m starting to feel like a broken record, because every time I go talk to somebody, I say, “we just dealt with something we have never seen in our lifetimes!” Yeah, this one gets SUPER interesting gang!
Links:
Click below to learn more about Energy Keepers.
https://energykeepersinc.com/
You can get latest data about water levels and water flow straight from the Energy Keepers website by clicking below.
https://energykeepersinc.com/
NOAA will even give you the Northwest River Forecast Center ESP Water Supply Volumes for the dam when you click below.
https://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/water_supply/monthly/monthly_forecasts.php?id=KERM8&datepick=09/30/2025&flavor=ESP0&nextwy=0
Click below to go to the Energy Keepers Facebook Page where you can also get great water flow and level info and more!
https://www.facebook.com/EnergyKeepers/
Click below to take a look at the USGS Flathead Lake Elevation Gauge.
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/USGS-12371550/#dataTypeId=continuous-00062–1202963074&showMedian=true&showFieldMeasurements=true&startDT=2025-10-01&endDT=2026-02-02
You can also see what the USGS Flathead River Flows below the dam by clicking below.
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/USGS-12372000/#showMedian=true&dataTypeId=continuous-00060-0&compare=true&showFieldMeasurements=true&startDT=2025-10-01&endDT=2026-02-03
Want to see the USDA NRCS Snow Water Equivalent for Flathead Lake? Just click below!
https://nwcc-apps.sc.egov.usda.gov/awdb/basin-plots/POR/WTEQ/assocHUC8/17010208_Flathead_Lake.html
In case you forgot this one from our recent NOAA Podcast click below to go to their Weather Prediction Center.
https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/
Click here to watch that NOAA podcast.
https://youtu.be/rbb2Qfno7T8?si=LCy9YRd62vGnXWV_
Still have questions? You can contact Energy Keepers via email below.
information@energykeepersinc.com
Don’t forget to contact your old buddy, Rigger! His email is below.
Downrigger@MontanaOutdoor.com
