Native Fish Conservation Aquaculture Project
The Conservation Aquaculture program works to prevent the extinction of Kootenai River white sturgeon and to reestablish a native burbot population.
Nutrient Addition and Biomonitoring through the Kootenai River Ecosystem Restoration Project
This program addresses the loss of nutrients caused by the construction of Libby Dam.
Kootenai River Habitat Restoration Project
This program incorporates in-river, side-channel and bank restoration treatments to restore and enhance aquatic habitat for Kootenai River white sturgeon, burbot and other native fish.
Reconnect Kootenai River with the Historical Floodplain Project
This floodplain reconnection work is designed to address the loss of floodplain habitats, wetlands, stream channels, and riparian habitat.
Kootenai River Floodplain Ecosystem Operational Loss Assessment, Protection, Mitigation and Rehabilitation Project
This project assess the overall condition of the floodplain to support prioritization, targeting, and management of conservation and mitigation actions. .
Albeni Falls Wildlife Mitigation Project
The Albeni Falls Wildlife Mitigation Program addresses losses of wildlife and habitats within the Tribe’s ancestral lands (Lake Pend Oreille) linked to construction and inundation associated with the Albeni Falls hydro project.
Welcome
The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho is developing and implementing innovative, scientific approaches to guardianship of the land that consider the whole ecosystem at the watershed/subbasin scale, are socially and economically responsible, are supported by the local community and other partners within the watershed, and that incorporate adaptive management principles.
The Kootenai Tribe’s Integrated Fish and Wildlife Program incorporates six complimentary projects designed to address factors limiting the recovery of native fish and wildlife populations, and to increase ecosystem resilience. They include:
Native Fish Conservation Aquaculture Project
The Conservation Aquaculture program works to prevent the extinction of Kootenai River white sturgeon and to reestablish a native burbot population. Sturgeon and burbot are critical components of the Kootenai River food web and ecosystem, and the program addresses Tribal Treaty subsistence and is working toward the goal of cultural harvest in the future.
Nutrient Addition and Biomonitoring through the Kootenai River Ecosystem Restoration Project
This program addresses the loss of nutrients caused by the construction of Libby Dam, which is compounded by disconnection of the floodplain and side channels. Nutrient additions mitigate for these losses and support reestablishment of a functioning food web. This contributes to recovery and viability of multiple native aquatic species.
Kootenai River Habitat Restoration Project
This large-scale multi-year, multi-project program incorporates in-river, side-channel and bank restoration treatments. Working within the constraints of the existing post-dam hydrograph, it addresses altered flows, lack of floodplain and side channel connectivity, bank erosion and land loss, altered sediment transport, depth, velocity, and altered hydraulics. It is designed to restore and enhance aquatic habitat for Kootenai River white sturgeon, burbot and other native fish and contributes to the restoration of food web and riparian habitats.
Reconnect Kootenai River with the Historical Floodplain Project
This floodplain reconnection work is associated with the Tribe’s wildlife mitigation program and is designed to benefit aquatic, avian and terrestrial species. It addresses the loss of floodplain habitats, wetlands, stream channels, and riparian habitat. Restoration actions are associated with wildlife mitigation projects and include avian, terrestrial, and aquatic species.
Kootenai River Floodplain Ecosystem Operational Loss Assessment, Protection, Mitigation and Rehabilitation Project
This project assess the overall condition of the floodplain to support prioritization, targeting, and management of conservation and mitigation actions. It is a tool to measure and understand the impacts and extent of changes to the ecosystem resulting from construction and operations of Libby Dam. The tool is used to prioritize and plan cost effective mitigation and restoration actions and to measure the effectiveness of those actions.
Albeni Falls Wildlife Mitigation Project
The Albeni Falls Wildlife Mitigation Program addresses losses of wildlife and habitats within the Tribe’s ancestral lands (Lake Pend Oreille) linked to construction and inundation associated with the Albeni Falls hydro project.
Welcome
The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho is developing and implementing innovative, scientific approaches to guardianship of the land that consider the whole ecosystem at the watershed/subbasin scale, are socially and economically responsible, are supported by the local community and other partners within the watershed, and that incorporate adaptive management principles.
The Kootenai Tribe’s Integrated Fish and Wildlife Program incorporates six projects designed to work in a complimentary fashion to address factors limiting the recovery of native fish and wildlife populations and to increase ecosystem resilience. Explore the projects below.
Native Fish Conservation Aquaculture Project
The Conservation Aquaculture program works to prevent the extinction of Kootenai River white sturgeon and to reestablish a native burbot population. Sturgeon and burbot are critical components of the Kootenai River food web and ecosystem, and the program addresses Tribal Treaty subsistence and is working toward the goal of cultural harvest in the future.
Nutrient Addition and Biomonitoring through the Kootenai River Ecosystem Restoration Project
This program addresses the loss of nutrients caused by the construction of Libby Dam, which is compounded by disconnection of the floodplain and side channels. Nutrient additions mitigate for these losses and support reestablishment of a functioning food web. This contributes to recovery and viability of multiple native aquatic species.
Kootenai River Habitat Restoration Project
This large-scale multi-year, multi-project program incorporates in-river, side-channel and bank restoration treatments. Working within the constraints of the existing post-dam hydrograph, it addresses altered flows, lack of floodplain and side channel connectivity, bank erosion and land loss, altered sediment transport, depth, velocity, and altered hydraulics. It is designed to restore and enhance aquatic habitat for Kootenai River white sturgeon, burbot and other native fish and contributes to the restoration of food web and riparian habitats.
Reconnect Kootenai River with the Historical Floodplain Project
This floodplain reconnection work is associated with the Tribe’s wildlife mitigation program and is designed to benefit aquatic, avian and terrestrial species. It addresses the loss of floodplain habitats, wetlands, stream channels, and riparian habitat. Restoration actions are associated with wildlife mitigation projects and include avian, terrestrial, and aquatic species.
Kootenai River Floodplain Ecosystem Operational Loss Assessment, Protection, Mitigation and Rehabilitation Project
This project assess the overall condition of the floodplain to support prioritization, targeting, and management of conservation and mitigation actions. It is a tool to measure and understand the impacts and extent of changes to the ecosystem resulting from construction and operations of Libby Dam. The tool is used to prioritize and plan cost effective mitigation and restoration actions and to measure the effectiveness of those actions.
Albeni Falls Wildlife Mitigation Project
The Albeni Falls Wildlife Mitigation Program addresses losses of wildlife and habitats within the Tribe’s ancestral lands (Lake Pend Oreille) linked to construction and inundation associated with the Albeni Falls hydro project.
