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NorthWestern plans August repair of Hebgen Dam

Last year's dam malfunction was "probably not a catastrophic event" for the fishery, the company said at a meeting where it outlined its plan to mitigate impacts to the Madison River.

At an event last week, NorthWestern Energy outlined its plan to prevent future Hebgen Dam malfunctions like the one that dewatered the Madison River late last year, cutting flow to one of the state's flagship trout streams in half in a matter of minutes. Representatives from the company, which operates the 108-year-old dam under a hydropower license administered by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, also presented a plan to monitor the Nov. 30 event's impact on the Madison River's fishery, which is a cornerstone of Madison County's economy.

Approximately 20 people attended the presentat...