Managing Resources
In 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006, PPL Montana was honored with the hydroelectric industry’s highest award for environmental stewardship.
The "Outstanding Stewardship of America’s Rivers Award" recognizes the company’s role in managing environmental and recreational resources at its eight hydroelectric power plants and one storage reservoir along the Missouri and Madison rivers.
One example of PPL Montana's contribution is the popular, 24-mile hiking trail in Great Falls that meanders through the city, connecting parks and other points of interest along both sides of the Missouri River. To allow easy access, we have worked with a local private nonprofit organization to close the loop of this trail, allowing hikers to cross the Cochrane Dam bridging the Missouri River.
Other PPL Montana accomplishments include:
- Leveraging $10.8 million in PPL funds into a total of $56 million when combined with other federal, state, and private funds for PPL Montana’s Madison-Missouri River partnership.
- Receiving the National Historic Landmarks Award in 2003 from the National Park Service.
- Implementing a recreation management program, including 32 new recreation sites, from primitive to highly developed.
Receiving a prestigious merit award from the Montana Recreation and Parks Association for its recreational contributions in Billings.
- Being recognized as a key partner in the River’s Edge Trail Project at Great Falls, Montana’s Trail of the Year, which follows a portion of the same route that Lewis and Clark passed through 200 years ago.
- Constructing, in collaboration with BikeNet and Big Sky Economic Development, a kiosk, picnic shelter and bench along the River Trail in Billings.
- Receiving the 2001 Environmental Stewardship Award from the Cascade County Conservation District (Great Falls, MT) for conservation projects on the Missouri River.