Idaho committed to protecting Pend Oreille

I called on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Bonneville Power Administration this week to work with Idaho in developing a new long-term lake level management plan for Lake Pend Oreille.

The current management plan expires this year, and we face two issues. First, the original intent of building Albeni Falls Dam was to maintain Lake Pend Oreille at full pool as long as possible each year. Second, proposals to take additional water out of the lake in late summer would have crippling impacts on Lake Pend Oreille’s scenic and recreational values and harm the Bonner County and regional economies.

Both issues make it clear that the federal agencies managing the dam must make it their highest priority to ensure the people of Bonner County and northern Idaho have more of a voice in managing Lake Pend Oreille.

The Lake Pend Oreille, Pend Oreille River, Priest Lake and Priest River Commission — better known as the Lakes Commission — was created by the Idaho Legislature in 2003 to give local residents an opportunity to work with State and federal agencies on water quality and water quantity issues while preserving fish populations, scenic beauty and recreation.

The Lakes Commission has been diligent in striving to fulfill its mandate, but I want commissioners, the public and local elected officials more directly involved in developing a long-term management plan.

I recognize the important regional need for flood control and power generation. But those needs must be balanced with the protection of Lake Pend Oreille’s unmatched scenic and recreational opportunities in addition to its crucial fish and wildlife resources. I am convinced there is an acceptable way to operate Albeni Falls Dam that will keep more water in Lake Pend Oreille longer.

Idaho stands ready to lead the effort to find a balanced solution to protect Lake Pend Oreille.

The corps is studying the idea of taking additional water from Lake Pend Oreille in late summer, ostensibly to benefit bull trout downstream. That would cause greater economic harm while providing little to no real benefit to bull trout. Put simply, any late summer call on Lake Pend Oreille water is unacceptable, and Idaho will oppose it.

There are better options available to help local bull trout populations than drawing down Lake Pend Oreille. My letter to the corps and BPA urged them to sit down in earnest with Idaho and key stakeholders — including downstream interests — to find common ground.

Finally, let me reiterate Idaho’s position on the Columbia River Treaty with Canada.

The original treaty with our northern neighbors was signed 50 years ago to ensure equitable sharing of the benefits of the hydropower system and flood control. Those key provisions should remain the treaty’s only functions. Talk of using the treaty to protect environmental function on rivers in the Columbia River Basin is misguided and should be left to individual jurisdictions.

I am pleased that the draft treaty recommendation recently submitted to the U.S. State Department calls for the treaty to make no changes along those lines to operations at Lake Pend Oreille or Lake Coeur d’Alene. Any attempt to have environmental or ecosystem function alter the management of those lakes is unacceptable.

Idaho will stay fully engaged in any efforts to amend our treaty with Canada.

I look forward to working closely with both the Corps and BPA and those who treasure it for the benefit of all.