NorthWestern Energy is hosting a public meeting on Oct. 17 to gather input about recreational facilities and opportunities along the Missouri and Madison rivers.

The meeting is 6-8 p.m. at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center theater, 4201 Giant Springs Road.

NWE owns and operates two dams, Hebgen and Madison, on the Madison River and seven dams, Hauser, Holter, Black Eagle, Rainbow, Cochrane, Ryan and Morony dams, on the Missouri River.

Enhancing public recreation in these areas is a federal licensing requirement to operate the dams.

Barge will be on Missouri for Black Eagle Dam project

NWE, in partnership with the public-private Missouri-Madison River Fund, has provided $6.4 million in grant funding for public recreation, leveraging $12.9 million in public recreation enhancements, since 2007.

NWE has also contributed $1.8 million in matching funds, according to the company, which is hosting the meeting to gather public input about public recreation along the river corridors included in the Missouri-Madison Comprehensive Recreation Plan, part of our federal licensing requirement.

A summary of the Missouri-Madison Comprehensive Recreation Plan and projects, use history, access and opportunities; as well as improvements supported by the Missouri-Madison River Fund.

The public will have the opportunity to provide input regarding potential for improvement to existing access facilities and opportunities, as well as new facilities and opportunities they would like to see in these important river corridors the future.

For questions, email NorthWestern Energy manager of hydro license compliance Andy Welch at andrew.welch@northwestern.com.

Black Eagle Dam is city’s 2021 ornament

The meeting is not related to the Black Eagle Dam enhancement project.

NWE has installed a barge landing on the northside of the Missouri River, upstream from Black Eagle Dam, and will be used by a barge to deliver equipment and materials to crews on the dam for the project.

The project involves installing new support structures and components of the Black Eagle Dam spillway to improve the integrity of the dam, and eliminate the need for manual ice removal, which is currently performed by NorthWestern hydro crews during frigid temperatures.

Power line work closes portion of River’s Edge Trail

JoDee Black, spokeswoman for NWE, told The Electric that the company is finalizing a contract with the general contractor this week for the project and work is expected to begin in the spring.

NWE installed the barge landing with the intention of it being removed once the project is completed.

Black told The Electric that since it’s been installed, there’s been some interest in maintaining it longterm for river recreation, but that would require more discussion and would not be a factor until the project is completed.

Vehicle access to the landing for supply and equipment deliveries crosses the River’s Edge Trail, west of the fenced entrance to the Black Eagle Island area.

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The River’s Edge Trail may be closed at times at the vehicle access point to transport equipment and materials across the trail.

While intermittent, delayed use of the trail for up to an hour may occur without advance notice. Any longer-term, planned closures will be posted here. In the event of intermittent delays, flaggers will be onsite to direct trail users to ensure the safety of the recreating public, according to Northwestern.

Metal plates are installed over the River’s Edge Trail at the vehicle access site to protect the trail. When the Black Eagle Dam spillway project is complete, the barge landing will be restored to the site’s original condition and the metal plates installed over the trail will be removed, according to Northwestern.