INTRODUCTION 



BACKGROUND 



Northern Lights, Inc. (NLI), a rural electric cooperative based in 

 Sandpoint, Idaho, agreed on February 3, 1978, to fund a study of the 

 fish and wildlife resources of the Kootenai Falls area, in Lincoln 

 County, Montana. This study, coordinated by the Montana Department of 

 Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), was designed to provide 

 information relevant to the analysis of impacts of the proposed Kootenai 

 Falls hydroelectric project on fish and wildlife resources, information 

 which could be used by NLI in its application to the Federal Energy 

 Regulatory Commission (FERC) and by DNRC in its ultimate evaluation of 

 the facility required under the Major Facility Siting Act. 



THE KOOTENAI FALLS PROJECT 



The proposed Kootenai Falls hydroelectric project has been described 

 in detail by NLI (197C) and will only be briefly described here. Figure 1 

 shows the location and Figure 2 illustrates the design of the proposed 

 dam. The dam structure would be approximately 9.1 m (30 ft) high, 

 impounding the river and inundating associated riparian habitat at 

 least to the 509.6 m (2,000 ft) contour for approximately 4.8 km (3 mi). 

 It would be utilized for peak power periods commensurate with flows 

 released from dams upriver. Water would be diverted from above the dam 

 into an underground powerhouse, which would have the capacity to utilize 

 672 cms (24,000 cfs) or the entire flow of the river. The water would 

 return to the river through two 11.9 m (39 ft) tunnels approximately 

 1.6 km (1.0 mi) below the Falls. The bypassed portion of the canyon 

 would be nearly dewatered, passing as little as 21 cms (750 cfs) of 

 water. 



OVERALL STUDY SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES 



The DNRC's approach in designing and carrying out this study was 

 one which emphasized impacts analysis and identification of possible 

 means whereby impacts may be mitigated or compensated. Since the budget 

 for the study was small, an effort was made to limit the collection of 

 inventory data to that directly useful in impact assessment and miti- 

 gation. Emphasis was placed on habitats and species most likely to be 

 affected by hydroelectric development, particularly tr.ose dependent upon 

 riparian and 'falls environments. 



The wildlife inventory was largely carried out by the Montana 

 Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MDFWP) under contract with DNRC, 

 entered into on February 15, 1978. Some limited field work was carried 



