NorthWestern : Energy - Public access at Hauser Dam regulated at night, beginning Nov. 1
June 09, 2020 at 11:15 am EDT
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Butte - Public access to NorthWestern Energy's property at Hauser Dam will be controlled to primarily daylight hours beginning in November.
The change in public access is to mitigate illegal activities occurring in the area at night, including underage use of alcohol, drug use, public disturbance, vandalism and litter. These activities create a risk to public safety, interfere with recreational uses in the area, damage infrastructure, and in some cases threaten residents in the area.
Beginning Nov. 1, an automated gate located on the Hauser Dam Road just north of the Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks Black Sandy State Park Day Use site will close at 8 p.m. through the end of March. From April through the end of October, the gate will close at 10 p.m. Users will still be able to exit the area after these designated hours. The gate will open at 5 a.m. daily.
'We've tracked the timing and use of the area and used that data to set the hours to maximize public access,' said NorthWestern Energy Hydropower License Compliance Manager Andy Welch. 'The designated hours will support the majority of recreational use at the site. They limit access at night, when most of the illegal activity has been observed in the area.'
'The Lewis and Clark County Sherriff's Office supports this decision,' said Lewis and Clark County Sherriff Leo Dutton. 'It is disappointing that this action must be taken, but it is necessary for the safety and welfare of law-abiding citizens using the area.'
About NorthWestern Energy (NYSE: NWE)
NorthWestern provides electricity and / or natural gas to approximately 734,800 customers in Montana, South Dakota, and Nebraska. We have generated and distributed electricity in South Dakota and distributed natural gas in South Dakota and Nebraska since 1923 and have generated and distributed electricity and distributed natural gas in Montana since 2002.
NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc., doing business as NorthWestern Energy, provides essential energy infrastructure and valuable services. The Company operates through two segments: electric utility operations and natural gas utility operations. The electric utility operations segment includes the generation, purchase, transmission and distribution of electricity. The natural gas utility operations segment includes the production, purchase, transmission, storage, and distribution of natural gas. It provides electricity and / or natural gas to approximately 775,300 customers in Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Yellowstone National Park. Its operations in Montana and Yellowstone National Park are conducted through its subsidiary, NorthWestern Corporation, and its operations in South Dakota and Nebraska are conducted through its subsidiary, NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation. Its customer base consists of a mix of residential, commercial, and diversified industrial customers.