Bill > HR716

This bill, known as the "Fill the Lake Act," directs the Secretary of the Interior to maintain Flathead Lake's water levels between 2,892 and 2,893 feet above mean sea level (MSL) during the period from June 15 through September 15 each calendar year. Specifically, the Secretary must ensure the minimum lake level of 2,892 feet by releasing water from the nearby Hungry Horse Reservoir, and simultaneously manage the maximum lake level of 2,893 feet by releasing excess water downstream. This precise water level management appears designed to support specific environmental, recreational, or economic interests in the Flathead Lake region of Montana, though the bill does not explicitly state the underlying rationale for these exact water level parameters. The bill represents a targeted federal intervention in local water resource management, requiring the Department of the Interior to take specific actions to maintain a very narrow range of lake water levels during the summer months.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/716/all-info