Mystic Hydro Project

Welcome to the Mystic Lake Project Coordination Site.

The 12-megawatt Mystic Lake Hydroelectric Project is owned and operated by NorthWestern Energy and is located 75 miles southwest of Billings, Montana.

In December 2007, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a new license for the project, effective Jan. 1, 2010.

The purpose of this site is to provide a public repository of information about the project and NorthWestern Energy’s ongoing efforts to comply with FERC license requirements of protection, mitigation and enhancement measures

About Rowe Dam at Mystic Lake

Two hikers take in the view of Mystic Lake.

About Rowe Dam at Mystic Lake

Framed by the rugged snow-capped peaks of the Beartooth Mountains and the Custer National Forest, our Mystic Hydroelectric Project is surrounded by a breathtaking wilderness landscape that supports diverse aquatic, fisheries and wildlife resources, native habitats and unique geological features. Anglers, hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts seek this setting from late spring to early fall.

Built in 1925, the 12-megawatt Mystic facility is on West Rosebud Creek in the Beartooth Mountains, 75 miles southwest of Billings, Montana. It is one of 10 hydroelectric facilities and one storage reservoir we operate. We work to produce safe, reliable energy to light homes and businesses across Montana.

Rowe Dam at Mystic Lake at sunset

Like Rowe Dam, many of our power plants operate in some of the most beautiful areas of our state. Our company takes seriously the responsibility to protect and maintain our hydro facilities and surrounding habitat and has committed more than $25 million for recreation, fisheries, water quality, wildlife, habitat and cultural resource enhancements on the Montana river systems we use to generate power.

Like all Montanans, we want to preserve the health of these natural resources for generations to come.

In 2022, we renamed Mystic Lake Dam as Rowe Dam at Mystic Lake to honor the dedicated service of retiring CEO Bob Rowe.

Bob served 14 years as CEO of NorthWestern Energy and led the company's successful acquisition of 11 dams in Montana in 2014.