Kalispel pact talks resume

SANDPOINT — The Pend Oreille Basin Commission will resume its discussion Thursday of a proposal to use water from Lake Pend Oreille to aid threatened bull trout downstream of Albeni Falls Dam.

The basin commission will discuss the matter during a conference call at 3 p.m. The public is encouraged to dial into the discussion by calling (913) 312-4198 and inputting the code 383004 when prompted.

Public input will be accepted during the conference call.

The conference call is a follow-up to a basin commission meeting on Nov. 15.

Up for discussion will be an agreement between the Kalispel Tribe of Indians, the Bonneville Power Administration and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to investigate the feasibility of releasing water from the late in late summer or early fall to cool the Pend Oreille River below the dam.

The move is anticipated to improve conditions for bull trout, but it could also benefit other cold-water species such as westslope cutthroat trout.

The proposal has raised hackles in Bonner County because an earlier drawdown of the lake could restrict access to boat launches and docks, which in turn could interfere with the boating season.

Several operational scenarios are being considered by the parties to the agreement. They include drafting the lake 2 1/2 feet to 4 1/2 feet after Labor Day or drafting 4 1/2 feet out of the lake starting Aug. 15.

The basin commission will discuss the agreement and temperature modeling that’s being conducted in light of the pact.