Water Swap Eases Drawdown At Koocanusa

Fri., Aug. 16, 1996

Associated Press

A Canadian water swap will put off a proposed 20-foot drawdown of Lake Koocanusa, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Thursday.

The corps said it has arranged a swap with British Columbia’s Arrow Reservoir to provide water for salmon in the Columbia Basin, so Lake Koocanusa will be drawn down only to about 7 feet below full pool.

Northwest Power Planning Council hydrologist Mark Reller said releases from Libby Dam also will be reduced during the weekend to allow for boating and other uses on the Kootenai River.

Hungry Horse Reservoir is being drawn down and is scheduled to be 20 feet below full pool by the end of August. The drawdown also is designed to provide water downstream for salmon.

State officials have protested drawdowns of reservoirs in northwestern Montana, saying they threaten both recreation and fish populations.

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Water Swap Eases Drawdown At Koocanusa

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

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