Yellowstone Reservoir Dam Being Removed

Ashley National Forest announced on Tuesday that Yellowstone Reservoir, Reservoir Campground, and the surrounding day use area are closed while crews remove the Yellowstone Reservoir Dam. “This temporary closure is to protect public health and safety while the dam is removed and the surrounding area restored to a natural river,” shares the announcement. Moon Lake Electric has provided the answer to the question, Why is the Yellowstone Hydro being decommissioned? “Built in the 1940's, the Yellowstone Hydro was a great resource for energy at the time. Fast forward to 2026, the infrastructure has become too old and costly to repair. Estimates to replace the penstock alone were over $5 million. Significant additional expense would also be incurred to update the control system, rewind generators, and maintain the dam.” But why does the dam need to be removed? Moon Lake says they have discussed options for maintaining it with the Forest Service, but unfortunately it is too costly to sluice and maintain. The reservoir fills with sediment which has to be removed approximately every 5 years. For the entire explanation, visit the Moon Lake Electric Association, Inc. Facebook page.