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Many of NorthWestern Energy’s hydro facilities in Montana bear the names of pioneering power company leaders.
Cochrane Dam, Morony Dam, and Ryan Dam were all named after leaders who shaped Montana Power and later NorthWestern Energy into the company it is today. Now an old dam with a new name has been added to that list – Rowe Dam at Mystic Lake.
At a ceremony in August, Mystic Dam, located about 75 miles southwest of Billings, Montana, was renamed to honor recently retired NorthWestern Energy CEO Bob Rowe.
Photo of Bob Rowe, former CEO of NorthWestern Energy
Bob served at the helm of NorthWestern Energy for 14 years, making him the longest-serving CEO in the company’s history. During his tenure, Bob took a company that had just emerged from bankruptcy and rebuilt it to responsibly serve the people of Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. He also rebuilt the culture and employees’ trust in the company. In return, Bob was loved and respected by employees at all levels of the company.
“It’s a huge job; it’s a stressful job,” said current NorthWestern Energy CEO Brian Bird, who took over after Bob retired. “We never knew he was stressed out. Bob was always happy and kind to us.”
The best thing Bob did during his tenure with the company was leading the purchase of NorthWestern Energy’s hydro assets in 2014, Brian said.
“What do you do for a guy who had that kind of impact on the company?” Brian asked last month during the Rowe Dam dedication.
The Rowe Dam naming ceremony.
Not long after NorthWestern purchased the Mystic hydro plant, along with 10 other hydro facilities in Montana, Bob and Brian took a tour of Mystic.
“I remember talking to Bob about how cool this is,” Brian said of that visit nine years ago.
So when Bob retired in December, he was presented with a surprise – Mystic Dam would be officially renamed Rowe Dam at Mystic Lake. Just like Hauser Dam, Hebgen Dam, and Holter Dam, Rowe Dam honors Bob’s incredible impact on NorthWestern Energy and Montana.
“Those people were all influential in the development of energy in Montana,” Brian said.
In order to rename the dam, NorthWestern Energy had to file a request with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and consult with the U.S. Forest Service. Rowe Dam is located in a truly stunning spot, just outside the Beartooth Wilderness Area. Mystic Hydro Plant was brought into service on March 20, 1925. The power house is located alongside West Rosebud Creek. Rowe Dam sits 1,130 feet above the power house at the tail of Mystic Lake, at an elevation of 7,673.5 feet. The two-unit plant has a generating capacity of 12 megawatts.
Bob Rowe, former CEO of NorthWestern Energy, on a tour of the Rowe Dam.
“I was absolutely flabbergasted when they shared the news,” Bob said. “I could not have imagined anything like that.”
On the day of the dam renaming ceremony, Bob walked across Rowe Dam for the first time since it was renamed, the sun shining on Mystic Lake and the high peaks of the Beartooth Mountains jutting toward the blue sky in the distance. In one direction, he could see some of Montana’s peaks; in the other, he could see the chain of lakes far below.
“This feels pretty incredible,” Bob said.
THE NAMES ON THE DAMS
Of NorthWestern Energy’s 11 hydro facilities, seven are named for pioneering leaders who helped shape Montana’s energy future.
Cochrane Dam – Named for Harry H. Cochrane, who helped design dams and transmission lines and became Montana Power’s chief engineer when the company was formed in 1912. He held that position until 1949, when he became a consulting engineer for the company, a post he maintained until his retirement in 1962.
Hauser Dam – Named for Samuel T. Hauser, an entrepreneur and governor of the Montana territory from 1885 to 1887. Hauser was involved in an array of business ventures ranging from ranching and mining to railroads and banks. Hauser was a key promoter and minor investor in the first Canyon Ferry dam, led the construction of his namesake dam north of Helena and had plans for another project downstream near Wolf Creek.
Hebgen Dam – Named for Max Hebgen, who around the age of 20 began working as a lineman in Butte, Montana, and went on to become nationally known in the growing field of electricity development. Hebgen played a large role in the development of several hydroelectric dams and saw the potential of using electricity to serve Montana’s cities and towns.
Holter Dam – Named for Anton Holter, known as the “father of the lumber business in Montana,” with lumberyards in Virginia City, Nevada City, Helena, Great Falls, Sun River and Fort Benton. He founded the A.M. Holter Hardware Company and became involved in a variety of mining, agricultural and real estate ventures.
Morony Dam – Named for John Morony, a leader of the Great Falls Water Power and Townsite Company and a key advocate for the purchase of the nearby Missouri River dam sites. Later, he went on to be one of the first directors of the Montana Power Company.
Rowe Dam – Named for Bob Rowe, who served as CEO for NorthWestern Energy from 2008-2022. During his tenure, Bob lead the acquisition of 11 hydro facilities from PPL Montana for $870 million. Prior to working at NorthWestern Energy, Bob served on the Montana Public Service Commission from 1993-2004.
Ryan Dam – Named for John D. Ryan, who played a large role in developing what would become the Montana Power hydroelectric system. Starting before Montana Power was formed in 1912, Ryan, who also led the Amalgamated Copper Co., (and later the Anaconda Company) first saw the value of electricity to mining and smelting operations. Later, he embraced the broader financial value of electric production.
