Agencies eye project to improve Kootenai River
Two anglers try their luck on the Kootenai River below the Libby Dam in early January 2024. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Federal and state agencies are considering a project that they say would improve nutrients in the Kootenai River.
The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) are evaluating implementation of the Kootenai River Nutrient Addition Project.
Bonneville proposes to provide funding to Fish, Wildlife and Parks for implementation of a pilot study intended to enhance depleted nutrient levels in the Kootenai River downstream of Lake Koocanusa.
The agencies are hosting an informal open house meeting from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10, at the Libby Dam Visitor Center.
Those attending will be able to ask questions and agency officials will accept comments about the scope of the proposed project and its environmental review.
The reservoir acts as a phosphorous sink, limiting the amount of natural phosphorous in the river below Libby Dam. These low nutrient levels are responsible for the excessive growth of an algal diatom and low growth and survival rates of fish, including bull trout and rainbow trout, in the Kootenai River.
FWP is the project sponsor and the Corps of Engineers operates Libby Dam.
The project’s activities would include the installation of nutrient holding tanks and a delivery system inside and outside of Libby Dam; adding phosphorus above existing levels to the river and monitoring the response of algae, invertebrates and fish.
To understand the potential environmental impacts of this proposal, the agencies may prepare a joint environmental assessment following the procedures of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA).
If the three agencies determine that an environmental assessment should be prepared, it would analyze the potential impacts from the proposed implementation of the project, as well as a no-action alternative in which the agencies would not fund, implement or permit the project.
In addition, the assessment would describe anticipated impacts to natural and human resources and identify mitigation measures to help avoid or minimize adverse impacts should they be identified.
During this process, the agencies would work with landowners, tribes, interest groups as well as federal, state and local agencies.
The proposed schedule for the environmental review is as follows:
Scoping comment period – Aug. 27 to Sept. 25
Public scoping meeting – Sept. 10
If warranted, an EA determination would occur in the spring of s2025
Draft EA available for public comment (if warranted) – Spring 2025
Final EA (if warranted) – Fall 2025
Finding of No Significant Impact (if warranted) – Fall 2025
If approved, construction start – Winter 2025
Those who want to comment on the proposal should send their comments by Sept. 25, so they may be considered in the environmental review.
When commenting, please refer to the full project name (“Kootenai River Nutrient Addition Project”). All comments will be posted on the BPA comment website.
There are several ways to comment:
- Online at www.bpa.gov/comment
- Toll-Free: 800-622-4519
- Fax: 503-230-4019
- Mail: Bonneville Power Administration
Public Affairs – DKE-7
P.O. Box 14428
Portland, OR 97291-4428
For environmental information, contact Brenda Aguirre, Environmental Protection Specialist, Bonneville Power Administration – ECF-4, PO Box 3621, Portland, Oregon 97208-3621.
She may also be reached, toll free, at 800-622-4519, direct line 503-230-5928 or via email baguirre@bpa.gov.
For project information, contact: Greg Smith, Fish and Wildlife Policy and Planning, Bonneville Power Administration – EWP-4, PO Box 3621, Portland, Oregon 97208-3621.
He may also be reached, toll free, at 800-622-4519, direct line: 503-230-5049 or email: gmsmith@bpa.gov.