Thank them for what?

Editor:

I'd like to comment on the large advertisement run the last few weeks by SHORE, asking us to thank the individuals and organizations that control or have a strong influence on the summer level of Flathead Lake. Thank them for what? Keeping the lake at almost full pool?

The fact is, according to the level at Kerr Dam as reported in the newspapers, Flathead Lake has been about three to four inches below full pool all summer.

Some might say that three or four inches isn't much, so what's the big deal? About 11 years ago several groups proposed dropping the "full pool" level 12 inches, not just for one season, but permanently, from now on. Wow, what a stink we raised, and they backed down. But I don't think they have gone away. I'm afraid of "full pool creep." If they drop the lake level three inches this summer and get our "thanks," will they try six inches low next summer? What about the summer after that?

This lake level management team might say, "Three inches? This is a big lake and it's impossible to hit 2893 ft. exactly." Well, if they were trying to hit 2893 ft. we should see as many days a few inches over full pool as we see under. I haven't seen a single report of the lake level being over full pool since June 15. I'll bet that if someone does the math they would find that the average level has been very close to three inches under full pool from June 15 through Sept. 15 this summer.

If you are one of those that thinks three inches isn't so much, Flathead Lake covers 125,250 acres. Three inches over that many acres equals 1,363,972,500 cubic feet. That's over 10 billion gallons of water. I think that if anyone should thank the people mentioned in SHORE's ad it should be the folks downstream that got to use that 10 billion gallons of water that should have been in Flathead Lake this summer.

I can't help but wonder if this lake level isn't managed for the benefit of someone downstream at a total disregard of the agreement to keep the lake at 2,893 ft. from June 15 through Sept. 15 every year. I just wish this management team would be honest with us about their priorities. If we got an honest report published in the paper about why that 10 billion gallons wasn't in the lake this summer and a promise to be honest with us about their priorities in the future, that might deserve a thank you.

Robert S. Rosso

Lakeside