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RIVER STORY 1: Increased Kootenai flows this
week part of sturgeon restoration effort
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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. |
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