A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis, serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. © James Conner.
This post updates yesterday’s post on this subject. Heavy rains overnight and today increased the streamflow in the Swan River, and as displayed in the graph below, the river is now above the minimum enforceable flows set in Appendix 26 of the CSKT Water Compact.
The river was below the enforceable hydrograph (MEF) for five days:
In theory, a call on junior water users in the Swan could have begun on 21 May. In practice, especially in these circumstances, with the river still flowing in excess of 2,000 cfs, and only a few percent below the enforceable hydrograph, I doubt a call would be made. The most critical period for fish, I suspect, is in late summer, when the river is low and warm. Even then, flows just a few percent below the enforceable hydrograph might not be enough to trigger a call.
