RIVER STORY 1: Increased Kootenai flows this week part of sturgeon restoration effort
May 16, 2014
You may notice higher flows of the Kootenai River over the next week or so. This planned increase in river flow is just one part of a program to encourage spawning and, in the long run, improve populations of the Kootenai River's endangered white sturgeon.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which operates the Libby Dam, plans to boost flow into the Kootenai River in a "double peak" fashion this spring, in an effort to encourage endangered white sturgeon to move into spawning areas upstream of Bonners Ferry.

The first increased flow peak is set to begin today, Friday May 16, and is timed to coordinate with the runoff of lower elevation basins and streams. The second peak flow is planned for the end of May and is timed to coordinate with higher elevation runoff. Both of these peak flow releases are due to last about a week.

It is hoped these increased flow levels will mimic natural spring runoff flows in the Kootenai River, in a way that will provide cues for the sturgeon and enable them to migrate to rockier areas of the river upstream of Bonners Ferry. It is believed these upstream areas and conditions are more conducive to egg adherence, hatching, and survival of larval sturgeon.

The Idaho Fish and Game Department follows the activities of approximately 90 radio-tagged sturgeon. The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho operates set lines to catch and release sturgeon. These methods help to monitor the movements and migration of the sturgeon as their activities and spawning are studied.

In addition to using flow from Libby Dam to encourage sturgeon spawning, the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho also operates their conservation aquaculture program to increase the number of young sturgeon in the river, and collaborates with federal, state, and other entities to construct habitats within the river upstream of Bonners Ferry that will provide conditions to promote successful sturgeon reproduction.

So, as you drive across the Kootenai Bridge this week, and notice the higher flow of the river, you now know that the increased flow is just one part of the multi-pronged, multi-organizational aproach to help restore Kootenai River populations of white sturgeon.