Fifty years ago today a 7.3 magnitude earthquake triggered a massive rockslide that dammed Montana's Madison River and buried a Forest Service campground beneath 80 million tons of rock, killing 28 people.  The enormous slide created Quake Lake, and a relatively steep new outflow channel for the Madison River as it flows over the slide.  "The Slide" or "Quake Lake Section of the Madison" is regularly tackled by paddlers drawn to its long season and Class IV and V rapids.  Because of its high recreational, fisheries, scenic, and geological values the section of river was formally determined to be eligible for Wild and Scenic designation by the US Forest Service.  The Forest Service has built a visitors center at the site, and it is often visited in concert with trips to nearby Yellowstone National Park.      

Recently a power company has pitched a plan to divert water from Quake Lake, around the slide, and down to a powerhouse at the base of the slide.  Their proposed project would remove 750cfs from the Madison River as it flows over the Slide.  The result of this proposed project would be the virtual elimination of whitewater boating on the reach, and significant scenic, fisheries, and stream channel impacts.  At the same time, the proposed project would severely impact the recognized values of a river eligible for Wild and Scenic designation, which is prohibited by law.

American Whitewater, Beartooth Paddlers, and the Jackson Hole Kayak Club filed comments last week with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission introducing legal, recreational, and ecological arguments against the project.  Our comments can be read here.  We do not feel that it is appropriate to severely impact a Wild and Scenic eligible river with such unique and important recreational, scenic, geological, and fisheries values.