Hatchery Likely To Get $4.6 Million Upgrade

The Kootenai Tribe’s fish hatchery in Bonners Ferry likely will get a $4.6 million upgrade to help endangered Kootenai River white sturgeon.

The Northwest Power Planning Council is expected to approve funding for the upgrade later this month.

Last summer, more than 150,000 sturgeon larvae were killed when an uncontrolled burst of chlorinated water entered the hatchery.

The Kootenai Tribe’s hatchery usually gets about $620,000 each year from money set aside by the Bonneville Power Administration for fish and wildlife programs. The power council determines how the money is spent.

The fish kill drew the council’s attention, and when the tribe made its annual funding request, the council’s staff suggested that the tribe needed more money to upgrade the hatchery to prevent future fish kills.