American Whitewater has been working with local volunteers Ian McIntosh and Rod Lodders, who also represent the Beartooth Paddlers Society, on the relicensing of two dams on West Rosebud Creek. The Mystic Lake Hydro Project (FERC P-2301) was the first hydro project in the Nation to go through the new Integrated Licensing Process (ILP)- making it an important test case. The ILP was created to encourage enhanced public participation and collaboration. On this project, the dam owner (PPL Montana) took this challenge seriously and worked closely with paddlers to analyze their project's impacts on paddling and explore way in reducing this impact.
Together, a whitewater flow study was carried out, which proved the high quality of the whitewater opportunities that West Rosebud offers and the flows needed for paddling. Subsequent negotiations lead to the conclusion that the hydro project significantly reduces the number of days of boatable flows in West Rosebud, while delaying boatable flows that do exist until later in the summer. It was determined that opportunities to reduce these impacts existed, and ultimately paddlers reached an agreement with PPL Montana on a plan to enhance paddling for decades to come. These enhancements focus on improved flow information (a new gage is now in place and online), improved forecasting of paddling opportunities caused by spills over the dam, enhancing spills that are just outside boatable flows, and providing recreational releases immediately following times of spill.
2007 marked the first trial of these measures. At the conclusion of the three year period, stakeholders reached a long term agreement on specific whitewater boating enhancement measures. We negotiated late-season optimal whitewater release on West Rosebud Creek. After the dam begins spilling, which can be tracked here, and flows begin to drop just below runnable levels, PPL will release extra water on weekends to bring flows back into the optimal range. When flows drop too low, releases are no longer possible. To plan your trip, simply apply the West Rosebud USGS gage reading to the agreed upon release protocol. More information can be found on the PPL West Rosebud Website.
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