NorthWestern Energy and Missouri-Madison Recreation Trust Announce 2015 Funded Public Recreation Projects

NorthWestern Energy http://www.northwesternenergy.com and the Missouri-Madison River Fund http://www.missourimadison.com/#!river-fund have announced funding next year for eight public recreation improvement projects on the two rivers where the company operates nine of its 12 hydroelectric facilities.

A combination of $51,278 from NorthWestern and $583,895 from the the Missouri-Madison River Fund will be combined with $142,110 from agency and private partners to complete eight projects totaling $777,283.

"These 2015 funds will support eight competitively selected projects that will further enhance public recreation on the Missouri and Madison rivers," said Jon Jourdonnais, Leader – Hydropower License 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."

2015 funded recreation projects include:

* Restoration of a deteriorated section of River’s Edge Trail in Great Falls;

* Replacing a walkway at Giant Springs State Park to improve safety and accessibility for visitors;

* Replacing a single lane boat ramp with a new double lane ramp at Ruby Creek Boat Launch on the Madison River;

* Upgrading an access road at Widow Coulee FAS on the Missouri River;

* Upgrading a pedestrian trail at the Earthquake Lake Visitor Center on Quake Lake for safety and accessibility;

* Replacing a boat ramp and culvert to improve access at Varney Bridge FAS on the Madison River;

* Installation of a new restroom at West Bank Park in Great Falls to serve park users;

* Supplemental construction funding for replacement of docks at Meriwether and Coulter recreation sites on Upper Holter Lake.

The Missouri-Madison River Fund, a $7.2 million trust fund for public recreation, was created through the collaborative efforts of NorthWestern Energy’s predecesors to the Missouri-Madison License; Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks; U.S. Forest Service; U.S. Bureau of Land Management; Madison, Gallatin, Broadwater, Lewis & Clark, Cascade and Chouteau counties; and numerous other public and private partners. This year marks the ninth year in which earnings from the trust have been awarded to recreation improvement projects through the River Fund program. Since 2007, more than $3.7 million has been awarded by the River Fund and the utility in support of nearly $6.2 million in recreation enhancements in the Missouri-Madison Corridor. In addition, NorthWestern Energy will fund $425,000 operation and maintenance of 32 existing recreation sites in 2015 as required by the Project 2188 (Madison-Missouri River) FERC License.

Created as a public-private partnership to meet public recreation needs along the Madison and Missouri rivers, the River Fund supports ongoing efforts to protect and enhance recreation from Hebgen Reservoir downstream to Fort Benton, excluding the Toston and Canyon Ferry hydroelectric plants and the river segment between them. River Fund awards for qualifying projects will continue on an annual basis, with grant awards in December.

A list of projects can be found under the "River Fund" tab at http://www.missourimadison.com, a website dedicated to the Missouri-Madison Comprehensive Recreation Plan. More information about NorthWestern Energy and its hydroelectric facilities can be found at http://www.northwesternenergy.com.

About NorthWestern Energy (NYSE: NWE)

NorthWestern Energy provides electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 678,200 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. More information on NorthWestern Energy is available on the company’s website at http://www.northwesternenergy.com.