Sturgeon augmentation flows to begin
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May 10, 2013 |
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Kootenai
Tribe of Idaho photo |
Water managers at the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, along with federal and state fish
biologists, determined forecasted inflows are
sufficient to provide flow augmentation at Libby
Dam for endangered Kootenai River white
sturgeon downstream in Idaho.
While this year's augmentation flows do not
include spilling additional volume through the
dam's spillway gates, plans include increasing
flows to full powerhouse capacity for about a
week, on two separate occasions, in an effort to
provide river conditions that may foster
sturgeon spawning.
Sturgeon flow augmentation is set to begin
Saturday at noon when local Kootenai River
tributaries below Libby Dam are forecasted to
peak, the trigger for initiating releases from
the dam in support of sturgeon recruitment.
Flows will be increased to full to powerhouse
capacity, approximately 26,500 cubic feet per
second, and will remain at that level for about
one week before decreasing to 18,000 cfs.
A second pulse of powerhouse capacity flows will
be timed to coincide near peak inflows above the
dam later this month or in early June.
The flow augmentation operation is part of a
collaborative, ongoing effort by regional
biologists to enhance spawning and migration
conditions for sturgeon in the Kootenai River
near Bonners Ferry. Increased flows are intended
to provide river conditions that may foster
sturgeon spawning, successful egg hatching, and
survival of larval sturgeon in the reach of
river upstream of Bonners Ferry, where sturgeon
do not currently spawn successfully.
While hatchery reproduction has increased the
number of young sturgeon in the river, federal,
state, and tribal partners hope to improve
habitat conditions for adult sturgeon to
successfully reproduce on their own.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' primary
consideration in operating Libby Dam is to
minimize risk to human life, health, and safety,
while meeting the dam's multiple purposes and
responsibilities. The Corps will closely monitor
Kootenai River elevation in Bonners Ferry during
the sturgeon flow augmentation and will adjust
operations with the aim of staying below 1,764
feet, the local flood stage.
Libby Dam is a multi-purpose water resource
developed for flood risk management, hydropower,
fish and wildlife, and recreation.
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