Drawdown is coming

SANDPOINT — The level of Lake Pend Oreille is slated to commence its annual winter descent next week, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The corps plans to begin lowering the lake level on Monday. The level is anticipated to reach between 2,060 and 2,061 feet above sea level by Sept. 30.

Lake levels have been near 2,062.3 feet for most of the summer. The lake level was measured at 2,062.2 feet at Albeni Falls Dam on Thursday.

How far the lake will be ultimately lowered, however, has not been decided. A decision is expected after an interagency lake level meeting on Sept. 17, corps officials said.

“After Sept. 30, the rate at which the lake is drafted will increase; but how much so will depend on this year’s agreed-upon winter lake level,” said Amy Reese, hydraulic engineer for the corps.

Inflows are typically at their lowest levels in September and early October, but later fall rains and other considerations may require some outflow adjustments to reach the agreed-upon lake level.

The Idaho Transportation Department is planning for the lake to be drafted to a level of 2,055 feet, said Ken Sorensen, an ITD engineer overseeing construction of the U.S. Highway 95 bypass.

The lake level was drawn down to 2,051 feet last winter, which coincidentally facilitated construction of the Sand Creek Byway.

The Idaho Department of Fish & Game recommended the lower lake level last winter because there was a limited number of spawning kokanee. A higher winter pool elevation expands the amount of gravel spawning habitat for kokanee.

Fish & Game did not respond Thursday to a request for comment on what elevation the department plans to recommend for this winter.

Last winter’s lower lake level meant more downstream water for chum salmon in the Columbia River, although some oppose the lower level because it hampers access to the Pend Oreille.