Feasibility Assessment and Design of Spawning Habitat for Rainbow Trout
Client: Idaho Department of Fish and Game
Watershed Consulting was contracted to assess the feasibility and to design spawning habitat for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in a remnant side channel to the Moyie River and to create a new side channel adjacent to it in the available space. The Moyie River, with it’s headwaters located in Canada, flows for approximately 100 miles before entering the Kootenai River. In 1949, a 92 foot high concrete dam was constructed by the Moyie River Hydroelectric Project, located approximately 1.5 miles upstream of the Moyie River and Kootenai River confluence. Upstream salmonid passage is not available over the dam, limiting spawning availability for rainbow trout to the area below the dam. However, the Moyie River below the dam consists of steep canyon walls, with most likely no spawning habitat. In addition, no tributaries with available spawning habitat enter the Moyie River below the dam. Creation of this spawning area will provide the only available spawning habitat for rainbow trout below the dam, adding valuable recruitment to the rainbow trout population of both the Moyie and Kootenai Rivers. Construction is slated for 2002.
Personnel involved:
Mike Koopal - Project management, assessment and design
Contact: Jody Walters, Senior Fishery Research Biologist, IDF&G, Coeur d' Alene, ID (208)769-1414.