Low flows on the upper Madison River are being blamed on a faulty shaft that holds up a gate on Hebgen Lake Dam. The piece broke sometime early Tuesday morning, cutting off water to the river. Fish have been stranded and brown trout eggs exposed as the river has dropped. The long-term effects of the drawdown are uncertain. In the short term, NorthWestern Energy is working to resolve the problem and get water flowing as soon as possible. To read more about the dire situation, check out my story at https://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/shaft-on-gate-broke-halting-water-flow-to-madison-river-volunteers-gather-to-rescue-fish/article_d3809d0e-89d3-5d88-b774-438d146d75ae.html.

Written by Brett French | Outdoors Editor for the Billings Gazette