Following a year of intense public scrutiny owing to last summer’s abnormally low water levels, the operators of the Séliš Ksanka QÍispé Dam on Flathead Lake have brought on a communications specialist.

Robert McDonald will serve as Energy Keepers, Inc.’s director of communications, a position focused on media relations, public relations and wider communication efforts, company officials said in a press release announcing his hiring. 

Energy Keepers manages the Séliš Ksanka QÍispé Dam, commonly known as the SKQ Dam, which sits at the southern end of Flathead Lake. The company, owned by the Confederated Kootenai and Salish Tribes, is responsible for maintaining water flows out of the lake. 

“Open, clear, accurate communication is our goal. I want to give people more of an ability to grasp some of the complexities at play here,” McDonald told the Daily Inter Lake this week.

McDonald worked as the communications director for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes for 15 years from 2006 to 2021. He recently worked at the tribes’ Natural Resources Division of Engineering and Water Resources before coming to Energy Keepers. 

The summer of 2023 saw record low water levels in Flathead Lake, a phenomenon that galvanized lawmakers, shoreline property owners and stakeholders, who petitioned Energy Keepers to suspend flows out of the lake. 

Energy Keepers CEO Brian Lipscomb has maintained that acquiescing to the repeated requests would have run afoul of the company’s licensing agreements. Explaining the organization’s reasoning and handling incoming questions necessitated the hiring of a communications director, Lipscomb said in a statement.

“The last two summers required higher levels of responsiveness to community questions regarding snowpack and water levels,” Lipscomb said. “To better serve everyone, we’ve expanded our capacity to respond to emerging questions.” 

Before McDonald’s hiring, Lipscomb handled most of the communication with the public. In anticipation of another low water year, McDonald’s position will handle those conversations in the coming months. 

“It's pretty clear that there is a focused interest in all things lake: care, conditions, level, management, and this very talented, lean staff is handling that additional burden incredibly well,” McDonald said. “I hope that my arrival helps [Lipscomb] and others on staff to focus on their original intended duties of planning, management and more.” 

McDonald worked as a daily newspaper reporter before becoming the tribes’ spokesperson. He now lives in the Mission Valley with his wife and youngest son while his oldest son is in college. 

Reporter Kate Heston can be reached at kheston@daiyinterlake.com or 758-4459.