Kootenai River White Sturgeon and Burbot Hatcheries Project (DOE/EA-1901)

Boundary County, Idaho 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The purpose of the project is to aid in the restoration and conservation of Kootenai River white sturgeon listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act. The project helps prevent extinction of Kootenai River white sturgeon by preserving the genetic and life history trait diversity of the remaining natural population, restoring a healthy age class structure, and replacing failed natural recruitment until naturally-produced recruitment could be restored. The project also expands burbot production capabilities from an experimental research phase to population-level production intended to re-establish a stable population of burbot in the lower Kootenai River.

In order to achieve their project goals the Tribe has constructed a new hatchery facility on property owned by the Tribe at the confluence of the Moyie and Kootenai Rivers, approximately eight miles upstream from Bonners Ferry, Idaho.

CURRENT STATUS

The environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) were signed on May 15, 2013.

CONTACT

For environmental information, contact:
Ted Gresh Toll-free: 800-622-4519
Environmental Protection Specialist Direct line: 503-230-7646
Bonneville Power Administration - ECF-4  Email: esgresh@bpa.gov 
P.O. Box 3621
Portland, OR 97208-3621

DOCUMENTS

SUPPLEMENTAL ANALYSES
SA-01 (08/16/2023)

FINAL EA & FONSI
Public Letter (05/30/2013)
Final EA (05/15/2013)
FONSI and Mitigation Action Plan (05/15/2013)

PRELIMINARY EA
Public Letter (02/15/2013)
Preliminary EA (02/15/2013)
Comment Form (02/15/2013)

The project was formerly called the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho Native Fish Aquaculture Program.
The documents below were released before the project name was changed.

Project Update Meeting Announcement (05/11/2012)
Project Update Meeting Comment Form (05/11/2012)
USFWS Comment Letter No. 2 (02/22/2012)
USFWS Comment Letter (11/10/2011)
ICL Comment Letter (11/07/2011)
Letter to the Public (10/12/2011)
Comment Form (10/12/2011)
Project Vicinity Map (09/29/2011)
Kootenai Aquaculture Step 2 Document - Volume 1 (August 2012)
Kootenai Aquaculture Step 2 Document - Volume 2 - Appendices (August 2012)
Kootenai River Native Fish Aquaculture Program Master Plan (June 2010)
Kootenai River White Sturgeon Recovery Implementation Plan (March 2007)
Burbot Conservation Strategy (January 2005)