American Whitewater has been working with local volunteers Ian McIntosh and Rod Lodders, who also represent the Beartooth Paddlers Society, on the relicensing of two dams on West Rosebud Creek. The Mystic Lake Hydro Project (FERC P-2301) is the first hydro project in the Nation to go through the new Integrated Licensing Process (ILP)- making it an important test case. The ILP was created to encourage enhanced public participation and collaboration. On this project, the dam owner (PPL Montana) took this challenge seriously and worked closely with paddlers to analyze their project’s impacts on paddling and explore way in reducing this impact.

Together, a whitewater flow study was carried out which proved the high quality of the whitewater opportunities that West Rosebud offers and the flows needed for paddling. Subsequent negotiations lead to the conclusion that the hydro project significantly reduces the number of days of boatable flows in West Rosebud, while delaying boatable flows that do exist until later in the summer. It was determined that opportunities to reduce these impacts existed, and ultimately paddlers reached an agreement with PPL Montana on a plan to enhance paddling for decades to come. These enhancements focus on improved flow information (a new gage is now in place and online), improved forecasting of paddling opportunities caused by spills over the dam, enhancing spills that are just outside boatable flows, and providing recreational releases immediately following times of spill.

2007 marks the first trial of these measures, and is the first year of a three year study phase. At the conclusion of the three year period, stakeholders will seek to reach a long term agreement on specific whitewater boating enhancement measures.