Under this contract, the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will continue to apply the Operational Loss Assessment and the Kootenai River Operational Mitigation and Evaluation Plan by identifying, designing, and implementing management actions that offset wildlife impacts caused by the operation of Libby Dam. Restoration planning and implementation activities conducted by KTOI are divided between three projects: 2002-011-00, 2002-008-00, and 1992-061-00. Additionally, this project coordinates and subcontracts with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to mitigate wildlife impacts in the Montana section of the Kootenai River floodplain. Many of the restoration activities in Montana are occurring in cooperation with the Army Corps of Engineers.

The original name of this project was the “Kootenai River Floodplain Ecosystem Operational Loss Assessment, Protection, Mitigation and Rehabilitation Project”, which was originally shortened to Kootenai River Operational Loss Assessment for the contract title.  In FY2016, the project and contract title was changed to “Kootenai River Ops Mitigation and Evaluation (KROME)” to more accurately reflect the scope of the contract. The title changes reflect the project’s evolution over time from a RM&E focused contract to one that focuses on planning and implementation of on-the-ground mitigation/restoration activities to offset operational impacts.