GREAT FALLS
Chouteau County commissioners say it's time to take another look at building a new hydroelectric dam on the Missouri River. Commissioners have sent a letter to Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., asking him to investigate the feasibility of building a dam at Car ter, 1 5 mi les upstream from Fort Benton. "With the present energy situation in Montana and the United States, we think it would be prudent to leave all of our energy options open, including the possibility of construction of a hydroelectric dam," the commissioners wrote in their letter to Tester. Commissioners say the dam could provide affordable electricity, water for agricultural producers and new boating and fishing opportunities. "I know there's a need for more power and this definitely would be a clean power," Commissioner Harvey Worrall said. There are five privately owned hydroelectric dams near Great Falls. A sixth such dam was considered by Montana Power Co., the former owner of the five dams, in the 1970s and '80s. Dick and Mary Urquhart live south of Carter. They say the proposed dam would flood property they own, where one of the nation's most well-preserved Lewis and Clark campsites is located. The lower portage site, as it's known, is where the expedition began its portage around wat e r fal l s the expl o re r s described as the "great falls" in the Missouri River. "It will be under water and then the public couldn't go down and see it," Mary Urquhart said. The Urquharts also own the land east of Great Falls where t h e p r o p o s e d c o a l - f i r e d Highwood Generating Station would be located. They wonder whether the proposed power plant is fueling the commission's interest in hydroelectricity. The Cho u t e a u Co unt y Commission has gone on record as opposing the coal-fired plant. "It's a way to mess with the coal-fired generator," Dick Urquhart said. Commissioner Jim O'Hara said the idea isn't related to the county's opposition to the Highwood plant, adding he wasn't aware of the dam's potential to degrade the Lewis and Clark site. "That could be a deal killer
