Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge Floodplain Reconnection Project

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) proposes to provide funding to the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho (KTOI) to restore floodplain connectivity to the Kootenai River historic floodplains within the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge (KNWR) in Boundary County, Idaho near Bonners Ferry, Idaho.

The KNWR is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The USFWS and the KTOI are the project sponsors. The project’s reconnection activities would include breaching levees, raising roads, replacing water control structures, enhancing wetlands, and re-establishing wetland connections. All of these actions would occur within an overall project area of about 2,330 acres.

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:

To understand the potential environmental impacts of this proposal, BPA may prepare an environmental assessment (EA) following the procedures of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). If BPA determines that an EA should be prepared, the EA would analyze BPA’s proposed funding for the KNWR Floodplain Reconnection Project, as well as a no-action alternative in which BPA would not fund the project and it would not be implemented. The EA would also describe anticipated impacts to natural and human resources and would identify mitigation measures to help avoid or minimize impacts. During this process, BPA will work with landowners, tribes, federal, state and local agencies, and interest groups.  The USFWS would cooperate in the preparation of the EA to support its NEPA decision for proposed modifications to refuge management. The USFWS’ project-specific webpage can be accessed here: https://www.fws.gov/project/kootenai-national-wildlife-refuge-floodplain-reconnection-project.

The proposed schedule for the environmental review is as follows:

Scoping comment period – April 18, 2024 to May 18, 2024

Public scoping meetings – April 30, 2024 

EA determination – Summer 2024

Draft EA available for public comment (if warranted) – Summer 2024

Final EA (if warranted) – Fall 2024

Finding of No Significant Impact (if warranted) – Fall 2024

If decision to build, construction start – Summer 2025

CURRENT STATUS:

BPA is requesting public scoping comments to help determine the issues that should be addressed in the environmental review. You may send us your comments so they may be considered as we analyze the issues or attend an informal, open-house meeting where we will answer questions and accept comments. The meeting will be held on: 

Tuesday, April 30, 2024
6 – 8 p.m.
County Annex/Parole Building
6566 Main Street
Bonners Ferry, ID 83805

DOCUMENTS:

SCOPING:
Scoping comments received Public Letter  April 18, 2024 Project Map April 18, 2024 Comment Form  April 18, 2024