West Fork of the Bitterroot will get cool water releases from Painted Rock Reservoir

Information from and email by Larry A. Schock, CFM DNRC Water Resources Division

Hello Everyone,

After we make a minor electrical repair at the dam we will be making an additional release of water on Tuesday Afternoon or Wednesday.

The dam has stopped spilling so the expected release should increase the outflows from the dam by approximately 75 cfs. The Painted Rocks Dam outflows after expected to be in the 250-275 cfs range after the adjustment.

A full report will be sent out after the adjustment.

Please contact me if you have any questions.


Larry A. Schock, CFM
DNRC Water Resources Division
Missoula Regional Office
(406) 721-4284
mailto:lschock@mt.gov

A minor clarification: When I say the dam has stopped spilling I mean that water is no longer going over the dam's spillway, it does not mean that the flows from the dam have stopped. There is currently 181 cfs flowing out of the low level outlet conduit, and it is this flow that will be increased to the 250-275 cfs range. Larry

Click here to go to the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (MT FWP) site for the West Fork of the Bitterroot.
Click here to go to the MT FWP site for Painted Rocks Reservoir, Tributary of the West Fork of the Bitterroot. They have an interactive map link.