INTRODUCTION 



Terrestrial wildlife of the Kootenai Falls area was inventoried during 1978 

 by the Montana Department of Fish and Game Ecological Services Division while 

 under contract to the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation 

 (DNRC). Northern Lights, Inc. of Sandpoint, Idaho, plans to construct a hydro- 

 electric facility immediately above the falls (see cover and Figure 1) and 

 therefore must comply with the Major Facility Siting Act and the Montana Environ- 

 mental Policy Act by preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) on the 

 area. The Major Facility Siting Act is administered by the DNRC. 



The Kootenai River originates in southeast British Columbia, flows south into 

 Montana, then west into Idaho and turns north to enter Canada once again. Kootenai 

 Falls is located between the northwest Montana communities of Libby and Troy 

 (Figure 2), 30 miles (48 km) down river from Libby Dam. Libby Dam impounds 50 

 miles or approximately half of the Kootenai River in the state and backs water 

 into Canada for another 50 miles. Currently Libby Dam is a baseload facility but 

 upon installation of four additional generators, it would be converted to a peak 

 load facility. Conversion to a power-peaking dam would require construction of 

 a reregulating dam to avoid flooding of downstream settlements. The rereg dam 

 would impound another 20 percent of the free flowing Kootenai River in Montana. 

 The Kootenai Falls Dam would be located approximately 20 miles (32 km) below the 

 rereg dam. 



Figure 1. Kootenai Falls proposed dam site, 



