In November 2021, a gate component failed on Hebgen Dam and cut off two thirds of the flow to the fabled Madison River. The public noticed the drop in water levels the next morning and tried to alert NorthWestern Energy (NWE) but struggled to get a hold of the entity for a few hours.
The Hebgen Dam release gate is open and outflows to the Madison River were restored just before midnight on Wednesday, Dec. 1. Follow-up work is still required, but water in the river has reached normal levels.
A full fishing closure is in effect for the upper Madison River from Ennis Lake upstream to Hebgen Dam.
A malfunction at Hebgen Dam caused flows on the Madison River to drop Tuesday, stranding fish on riffles and concentrating fish in deep water. NorthWestern Energy is working to fix the dam.
Water flow from Hebgen Dam to the Madison River significantly decreased Nov. 30 when a gate component failed on the dam’s outlet structure, decreasing the opening for the outtake of water at the bottom of the gate.
The outstanding success of the Ennis-area O’Dell Creek Restoration Project, which began two decades ago, is recognized with a NorthWestern Energy-commissioned painting by renowned Montana artist Monte Dolack.
The NorthWestern Energy Madison Powerhouse downstream from Ennis Lake will begin construction to upgrade its turbines and generators in October 2019. The project is predicted to take a year and a half to complete.
65 N. MT Hwy 287
Ennis, MT 59729
406-682-7755
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