Concept mulls siphoning Priest Lake water for river

(Editor's note: This story was updated to correct an incorrect date that appeared in an earlier version.)

DOVER — The Idaho Department of Fish & Game is meeting with the Idaho Lakes Commission later this month to discuss the concept of siphoning water from Priest Lake to improve fish habitat in the Priest River.

Chip Corsi, Fish & Game’s Panhandle regional director, is slated to make the presentation to the commission when it meets on Wednesday, Feb. 18.

The siphoning project would aid bull trout, westslope cutthroat trout and other cold-water fish species. Along with the conservation benefits, it would greatly enhance sport-fishing opportunities, according to Corsi.

“The project is still very much conceptual,” Corsi said.

In light of the siphoning concept in Idaho, the Lakes Commission has been keeping tabs on a similar project that’s nearly completed in Pend Oreille County, Wash.

A contractor hired by the Pend Oreille Public Utility District installed a 900-foot, 54-inch diameter pipeline in Sullivan Lake to siphon cold water into Outlet and Sullivan creeks.

That $4 million project is part of federal re-licensing for the Boundary Dam and aims to decrease the overall temperature in the two creeks to aid native salmonid habitat conditions.

The project was substantially completed earlier this year.

“This project progressed with very few problems due to the assistance from the Forest Service and other state and local agencies which helped facilitate the scheduling and coordination efforts,” project manager Mark “Bubba” Scott said in a post on the PUD’s website.

Other items on the commission’s agenda include updates on the Clark Fork Delta Restoration Project, the city of Sandpoint’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit and the 20th anniversary of the Water Festival.

Erin Mader, the commission’s program coordinator, said the board is still in talks with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and stakeholders in the management of Lake Pend Oreille’s levels.

Mader said the corps is currently offering three weekends in September at full pool and 1 foot down for the rest of the month. The commission, meanwhile is still pushing for Lake Pend Oreille to be held at full pool for the entire month.