PPL Montana is planning to release water from its Hebgen Dam to enhance fishing habitat and water quality in the Madison River under the terms of the company’s operating license with the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The action will flush accumulated sediment below the dam and help the health of the trout and other valuable fisheries in the river. It is being done in cooperation with the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks and other state and federal agencies in compliance with PPL Montana’s FERC license.

“Our flush, which will augment natural flow from Hebgen Dam, will begin Tuesday, June 3, and continue for at least three days depending on weather conditions,” said Frank Pickett, senior aquatic ecologist for PPL Montana. “This operation will not affect our ability to refill Hebgen Reservoir. We will refill Hebgen and provide water to augment natural high water.

“Fortunately, this year we have a better snowpack in the mountains, and the recent warm weather has made it a good time to supplement naturally occurring high water,” he said.

PPL Montana is conducting the gradual release of water from the dam in cooperation with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks; the U.S. Forest Service; U.S. Bureau of Land Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.

Attempts will be made to release water to coincide with peak runoff in the West Fork of the Madison River and allow Hebgen Reservoir to reach its full level, Pickett said.

To protect the outlet of Quake Lake at the Madison River from erosion, the flow in the river will not be allowed to exceed 3,500 cubic feet per second at the Kirby gauge.

After the flush, the flow will be gradually tapered down to protect small fish and river life at the margins of the stream, Pickett said.

Releases of 1,500 cubic feet per second from Hebgen Dam are being made now and could go to a maximum of 2,500 cubic feet per second, Pickett said. These figures are estimates and will change based on location on the river and the variability in river flow, which can change rapidly this time of year. Anglers should be aware of the changing conditions and take appropriate precautions.

Questions about this flushing-flow operation may be directed to Frank Pickett at 406-533-3445.

PPL Montana provides safe, reliable energy from coal-fired power plants at Colstrip and Billings, as well as 11 hydroelectric plants along West Rosebud Creek and the Missouri, Madison, Clark Fork and Flathead rivers. It has a combined generating capacity of more than 1,200 megawatts and has offices in Billings, Butte and Helena. PPL Montana and its 500 employees are dedicated to Montana and its communities, supporting educational, environmental and economic development programs across the state. PPL EnergyPlus operates a trading floor in Butte that markets and sells power for PPL Montana in wholesale and retail energy markets throughout the western United States. PPL Montana and PPL EnergyPlus are subsidiaries of PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL).