BUTTE, MONT. - Jan. 22, 2018
- NorthWestern Energy and the Missouri-Madison River Fund have announced funding awards for 15 public recreation improvement projects on the two rivers where the company operates nine of its 12 hydroelectric facilities.

A combination of $107,330 from NorthWestern and $524,329 from the the Missouri-Madison River Fund will be combined with $561,105 from agency and private partners to complete 15 projects totaling $1,192,764. In addition, NorthWestern Energy will contribute more than $431,000 for operation and maintenance efforts at many existing recreation sites in 2018 as required by the Project 2188 (Madison-Missouri River) FERC license.

'Recreation facilities and opportunities will be enhanced on the Missouri and Madison rivers through completion of 15 competitively selected projects in 2018,' said Andy Welch, Leader -- Hydro Licensing and Compliance. 'NorthWestern Energy and its employees are proud to continue to support this collaborative private-public effort to improve recreation facilities and opportunities on these great rivers for all Montanans.'

2018 funded recreation projects include:

  • Replacement of the courtesy dock at Lonesomehurst boat launch on Hebgen Lake and Kobayashi Beach on Ennis Lake;
  • Improvements to two sections of the River's Edge Trail and printing of trail maps in Great Falls, as well as addition of an ADA crossing into West Bank Park in Great Falls;
  • Creation of the multi-agency Holter Lake management plan;
  • Improvements to the Madison Road at Ennis Lake and Widow Coulee Road on the Missouri River;
  • Phase One development of the California Corner recreation site and replacement of the Trapper Springs pavilion roof on the Madison River;
  • Upgrades to parking lot lighting at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in Great Falls;
  • Improvements to visitor amenities at the fish hatchery show ponds in Giant Springs State Park in Great Falls;
  • Upgrade of information kiosks at four Fishing Access Sites on the Missouri River;
  • Feasibility study to relocate the historic Varney Bridge across the Madison River.

About NorthWestern Energy (NYSE: NWE)
NorthWestern Energy provides electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 709,600 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. More information on NorthWestern Energy is available on the company's website at www.northwesternenergy.com.

Media Contact:
 Butch Larcombe
(866) 622-8081
butch.larcombe@northwestern.com

NorthWestern Corporation published this content on 22 January 2018 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 22 January 2018 19:44:07 UTC.

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