Georgetown Lake Homeowners Association
Services
Georgetown Lake Volunteer Fire Department
The fire hall can now host your community events including meetings and weddings. Please contact Fred to discuss your ideas as to how you might use the fire hall.
Fred Bjorklund, Fire Chief
406-560-3260
Anaconda Sheriff Dept
Please call 911 if a crime is in progress, someone is hurt or threatened, a weapon has been used or is present, or for any other emergency situation.
If you have an emergency. please dial 911
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Phone: 911
The Lake
GEORGETOWN LAKE UPDATE – April 12, 2023
Current Lake Elevation 6428.41 (PROVISIONAL DATA from USGS gage 12325000)
The water surface elevation is lower than normal for this time of year, based on 80 years’ worth of lake elevation data.
Elevation and Inputs
From February 28, 2023 to March 31, 2023 the water surface increased from 6428.34 to 6428.43 feet. Average weekly inflows started around 15 cfs in March and reached a high of 32 cfs at the very end of the month. The inflows have since decreased to around 16 cfs in mid-April (outflows are currently around 25 cfs which is why the lake elevation has been decreasing in the last week). Inflows were much higher just 2 days ago because of warmer temperatures (greater than 35 degrees F at 7,200 ft elevation) on April 7 – 10. That heat wave is subsiding though and likely explains the drop in inflows.
The lake gained 268-acre feet of storage from February 28, 2023 to March 31, 2023. Storage gains averaged 4.35 cfs. The lake was gaining more than the average monthly March outflow of 18.5 cfs, thus total lake inputs were equal to 22.8 cfs. The inflows were 82% of normal for March.
The lake is still frozen.
Precipitation
In March, the Peterson Meadows SNOTEL site received 4.1 inches of precipitation (which is 158% of normal). All this moisture fell as snow, increasing the total snow water equivalent (SWE) at Peterson Meadows to 12.3 inches (124% of normal for end of March). The Warm Springs SNOTEL site gained 4.8 inches (133% of normal), increasing SWE to 20.5 inches (100% of normal).
Climate Forecast
The latest CPC climate forecast has not been released at the time of this update. Last month’s update used the same one (created March 16, 2023) which shows below average air temperatures and normal precipitation for the 1-month March to April outlook. The 3-month outlook shows average temperatures and average moisture for March, April, and May. These forecasts are updated around the 20th of each month.
Model Forecast
The water surface elevation sits at 6428.41 feet today (4/12/2023), and I used a starting elevation of 6428.43 feet from the USGS gage for March 31. Although inflows have decreased and the lake level has slowly decreased, I used an outflow value of 25 cfs for April to let some water through the dam to make room for the well above average low-elevation and average high-elevation snowpack. I used 93% of normal for inflows based on the current inflow rate and NRCS’s most recent April 1 water supply forecasts for the Upper Clark Fork basin. NRCS is reporting estimates of greater than 100% of normal across the Upper Clark Fork, I used an average value from the stations nearest to Georgetown and chose a lower probability to be somewhat conservative. I think that, given the snowpack, this is a reasonable estimate and the inflows have steadily increased the last 3 months to 82% of normal. Peak snowpack does not usually occur in the Flint Cr drainage until June so we have plenty of time left for conditions to change, April is still an uncertain time but available information for the watershed suggests there will be plenty of water to fill the lake. How the situation develops will likely depend more on temperatures over the next 2 months than additional snowfall. With 93% inflows, excess water (above 30 cfs) will need to be released in May and June to accommodate the snowmelt and not pass water over the spillway.
Wildlife
Protecting Montana's Waters
John O'Bannon AIS Area Supervisor for Southwest Montana, with the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks AIS Bureau, Presented a slide show on protecting Montana's lakes, rivers and streams from invasive mussels, snails and fish at the August Georgetown Lake Homeowners Association meeting and BBQ.
For more information please contact:
John O'Bannon
406.210.5054
john.o'bannon@mt.gov
cleandraindrymt.com
To help stop the spread of invasive aquatic species:
1. Help spread the Clean, Drain, Dry message
2. Boats traveling on the Interstate should be inspected prior to launch
3. Aquarium dumping must be STOPPED! Aquariums fish and plants can cause serious damage to our lakes and streams.
Help Protect Our Bears
BEAR PROOF GARBAGE CAN PROJECT
To order your own bear proof garbage can send an email to
KJOHNSTON@PEOPLEANDCARNIVORES.ORG
Kim Johnston 406-599-9424
COST $80.00
FOR SPRING DELIVERY
Send payment with address information to:
People and Carnivores
P.O. Box 6733
Bozeman, MT 59771
Phone: (406) 587-3389
Fax: (406) 587-3178
info@peopleandcarnivores.org
Montana Sport Fish Consumption Guidelines
What you need to know about Mercury, PCBs, and other contaminants when fishing in Montana. This guide provides information about how to enjoy healthy meals from wild fish caught in Montana.
It provides specific scientific data about the water bodies which have been tested, plus more general information for areas that have not yet been tested.
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For more information contact Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks
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For information on collection and laboratory testing of fish from Montana waters, call MT Fish, Wildlife and Parks at 406-444-2449.
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For information on the health risks of eating fish, call MT Health & Human Services 406-444-2837 or email: HHSFCS@mt.gov.
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Or visit the MFWP website at www.fwp.mt.gov/fishing
Gallery
WHAT DOES THE GEORGETOWN LAKE HOME OWNER’S ASSOCIATION DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY?
Water: We are on a committee that advise Granite County on lake management. We cosponsored and participated in a Clean Lake Study to assure our lake is healthy. It Is!
Zoning: Homeowners at the lake wanted a “soft touch” zoning or development rules so we guided that process through meeting and hearings until that was achieved. ( 3 years).
Wildlife Management: We work closely with FWP and other groups to address wildlife issues in our area. This includes public presentations and promoting good management practices such as bear proof garbage cans.
Volunteer Fire Department: We support the Georgetown Lake Fire Department with equipment donations and funding for equipment for the Emergency Response Unit.
Planning Board: We have had a member sit on the Granite County Planning Board to guide development at the lake.
Meetings: GLHA holds two meetings at the lake every year to keep members informed of current issues. There are usually speakers from various agencies to inform us on topics of interest.
Watershed: GLHA has a representative sit on the Granite County Watershed Committee. This group is designed to preserve and protect the watershed including Georgetown Lake. They also promote maintaining our rural lifestyle.
Flow Gauges: GLHA also shares in the cost of maintaining a USGS flow gauge on Flint Creek. This measures the water coming out of Georgetown Lake on a real time basis. This enables us to monitor management of the reservoir by Granite County.
Membership: We welcome new members to help us with these endeavors. The cost of membership is $25. You can send a check to GLHA, PO Box 643 , Anaconda, Montana 59711. Include your address at the lake and for future mailings, email is appreciated also.