School bus-sized boulder hits Madison Dam. Ennis Lake to be drained
About the “boulder.” Story by Lauren Russell, Bozeman Chronicle Staff Writer
Update Sept. 4. Road closed due to damaged dam to open for Labor Day weekend. Bozeman Chronicle.

Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University. He was a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and was also its President for several years. For a long time he produced Ralph Maughan's Wolf Report. He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. He and Jackie Johnson Maughan wrote three editions of "Hiking Idaho." He also wrote "Beyond the Tetons" and "Backpacking Wyoming's Teton and Washakie Wilderness." He created and is the administrator of The Wildlife News.
5 Responses to School bus-sized boulder hits Madison Dam. Ennis Lake to be drained
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It would be nice to see a picture
Jeff,
Here is one http://www.kxlf.com/player/?video_id=4109&zone=45&categories=45
Probably not going to “drain” Ennis Lake, but PPL is projecting a drop of about 9 feet.
After the Hebgen hysteria here two years ago (Hebgen dam malfunctioned Labor Day weekend 2008), I expect rumors that the town of Ennis will be sucked into a whirlpool and carried off to the Gulf of Mexico.
The lake is so shallow that a 9′ drop will make some serious mudflats.
I love the Beartrap Canyon below the dam…the only place I’ve ever seen mountain goats come down to the river to drink.
I’ve always hoped this dam will go away some day.
I have updated this story.