The overarching goal of project 1994-049-00 is to recover a productive, healthy and biologically diverse Kootenai River ecosystem, with emphasis on native fish species rehabilitation. It is especially designed to aid the recovery of important fish stocks, i.e. white sturgeon, burot, bull trout, kokanee and several other salmonids important to the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho and regional sport-fisheries. An ecosytem perspective is used to integrate work on tributaries, the mainstem, and wetlands associated with the Kootenai River below Libby Dam.  

The major objective of the project has been to address factors limiting key fish species within a ecosystem perspective. Major objectives include: establishment of a comprehension and thorough biomonitoring program, investigate ecosytem--level in-river productivity, test the feasiblity of a large-scale Kootenai River nutrient addition experiment (completed), to evaluate and rehabilitate key Kootenai River tributaries important to the health of the lower Kootenai River ecosystem, provide written summaries of all research and activities of the project, and,  hold a yearly workshop to conviene with other agencies and institiutions to discuss management, research, and monitoring strategies for this project and to provide a forum to coordinate and disseminate data with other projects involved in the Kootenai River basin.

This statement of work (SOW) summarizes activities planned in FY2005 for project 1994-049-00. Increasing productivity in the Kootenai River, especially within the Idaho segment will be a major focus for work being done in this contract year, along with biomonitoring, stream monitoring and rehabilitation, and some basic research. Liquid phosphorus and nitrogen will be added during the biologically active months when flow is stable (i.e. July-September). Ecosystem level biomonitoring will continue in the Kootenai River from above Lake Koocanusa, B.C. through Montana and Idaho to the inflow with Kootenay Lake, B.C., covering over 350 river kilometers. Information for water quality, periphyton, macroinvertebrates, zooplankton, macrophytes, and the fish community will be collected at 14 sites as part of the regular biomonitoring on the Kootenai River. Additionally a more fine-scale and intensive monitoring will occur for approximately 10 km below the nutrient discharge station to meet the scientific rigor expected with a large-scale, adaptive management experiement, and to meet permitting requirements of local, state and federal agencies. Intensive ecosystem monitoring ranging across all trophic levels from water quality to fishes will accompany the fertilization effort. This work will include cooperation from Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Amry Corps of Engineers, Montana Fish Wildlfe and Parks, and the British Columbia Ministry of Environment (BCME) in conjunction with the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho. In a separate, but  related large-scale adaptive management nutrient experiment on the south-end of Kootenay Lake, B.C., the Kootenai Tribe will provide funding to purchase liquid fertilizers and fund associated monitoring for the British Columbia Ministry of Environment (Nelson regional office). The KTOI and BCME believe restoring productivity in the south-arm of Kootenay Lake will benefit adfluvial fish species that use the Kootenai River on both sides of the international border. Kokanee, sturgeon, redband trout, and burbot use both the river and lake ecosystem and are likely benefactors of increased producivity in Kootenay Lake. The KTOI and BCME will share progress reports and have a yearly conference to discuss findings and expenses of the Kootenay Lake fertilization effort.

Additionally the KTOI wil convene with other agency and institution personnel and discuss  management, research, and monitoring strategies for the Kootenai River ecosystem during the annual International Kootenai River Ecosystem Restoration Team meeting (IKERT). All parties in the management and/or research of the Kootenai River ecosystem will be invited to attend.  Currently representatives from KTOI, IDFG, Montana Dept. Fish Wildlife and Parks, British Columbia Ministry of Environment, the University of Idaho, Idaho State University, and the University of British Columbia attend IKERT functions. During some years (e.g. 2004) the meeting will be combined with a Adaptive Evironmental Assessment (AEA) workshop to plan and coordinate all Kootenai River Projects in the Idaho reaches of the river. This allows for a "big-picture" view of fish and wildlife projects and how to best coordinate them to recover the Kootenai River ecosystem. These typically occur on a 5 year basis.

The KTOI began a multi-year stream habitat/biota survey of lower Kootenai River tributaries (between Bonners Ferry and Porthill, ID) in 2000 and wii continue the work in 2005. An ecosystem-food web perspective has been used in development of the surveys and restoration work. Streams where historical kokanee spawning has occurred were given top priority in the selection of tributaries to be surveyed, as these adfluvial, native, salmonids are considered to be an important part of the historical Kootenai River ecosystem. They cycle nutrients from Kootenay Lake , B.C. back to tributaries and the mainstem of the Kootenai River. In addition, kokanee presumably served as a seasonal food source for adult sturgeon in the river. As of 2004, three tributaries has been evaluated (Trout, Parker, and Long Canyon Creek). During FY2005 monitoring will be performed on Parker, Long Canyon, and Trout Creeks. Restoration work will be performed on Long Canyon Creek during 2005. This work is performed by a contractor and KTOI personnel. Monitoring of water quality, periphyton, macroinvertebrates, and fish community dynamics will be performed on the three tributaries noted above in 2005. Water quality and periphyton will be monitored monthly from April to October, while macroinvertebrates and fish will be sampled once yearly, during the fall season.