How Flathead Lake Water Levels Affect Boating on the Lake

Flathead Lake’s water levels fell to historic lows in 2023 and you may be wondering how summers with low water levels affect your boating plans. Could low water levels affect your Flathead Lake boating plans this year too? Here’s what you need to know about the water levels on Flathead Lake and what that means for future boating plans:

Are low  Flathead Lake water levels a big deal?

It depends on how low the Flathead Lake water levels get. Most of the time, a dip in the water levels of Flathead Lake is not a huge problem. However, in 2023, Flathead Lake sat at about two feet below full pool – a record low for the summer months. The lake is normally 2,893 feet deep so two feet might not seem like a lot but it is! A drop of 2 feet can bring recreation on the lake to a screeching halt, which is why Flathead county officials asked the Governor to declare a state of emergency over the water levels in 2023. 

Why do Flathead Lake water levels decrease?

The low water levels at Flathead Lake are due to a variety of factors. As explained in this Montana Free Press article, low Flathead Lake water levels are in part due to drought. For example, 2023 was the county’s 5th driest start to the year in over 100 years. That was paired with the fact that there was  a less than ideal snow pack that melted early in the warm spring weather.

How do low Flathead Lake water levels affect boating?

The main impact to boating from low Flathead Lake water levels is the impact it’s had on area docks. Many docks become unusable due to the low water which means less places to store boats on the water or even put into the water. 

How do low Flathead Lake water levels affect sailing?

The low Flathead Lake water levels don’t have an  affect on sailing in the area unless lake levels drop 2890. Go Sail Flathead Lake still offers charters, boat rentals, and American Sailing courses on  Flathead Lake if there is only a moderate dip in water levels. In fact, when you are out sailing the lake, you won’t notice the difference to your sailing experience with us when there are lower Flathead Lake water levels. If it is safe to sail, we’ll be out on the water so come out and sail with us today!