U.S. FWS
Environmental Conservation Online System
Conserving the Nature of America

Recovery Plan Action Status

Plan Name: Recovery Plan for the Kootenai River Population of the White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus)
Plan Status: Final
Plan Date: 30-Sep-99
Lead Agency: USFWS
Lead Office: Idaho Fish And Wildlife Office ( (208) 378-5243 )
Species Action Priority # Action # Action Description Action Status Est. Initiation Date Est. Completion Date Responsible Parties Work Type Labor Type Action Comments Implementation Activities
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 111 Conduct public review of and approve new operational guidelines for Libby Dam. Complete FY 2000 - FY 2004 FY 2006 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bonneville Power Administration, British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land, and Air Protection, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Begin in 1999
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 112 Implement new operational guidelines to provide annual flow regimes to benefit white sturgeon in the Kootenai River basin. Complete FY 2006 FY 2006 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bonneville Power Administration, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Costs include foregone power production; possible flood control costs, nned to be determined.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 113 Coordinate Libby Dam flow releases during April through August to achieve an optimum combination of water temperature and discharge volume. Ongoing Current FY 2006 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bonneville Power Administration, U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries), U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, British Columbia Hydropower Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Instream management to fine-tune augmentation.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 114 Store water in Koocanusa Reservoir prior to spring runoff to achieve white sturgeon flow targets. Ongoing Current FY 2006 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bonneville Power Administration, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 115 Conduct agency coordination for implementing white sturgeon flow augmentation program. Ongoing Current FY 2000 - FY 2004 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bonneville Power Administration, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land, and Air Protection, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans, British Columbia Hydropower Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected U.S./Canada coordination
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 116 Kootenay Lake Evaluations Ongoing Current FY 2006 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bonneville Power Administration, British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land, and Air Protection Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 117 Evaluate alternatives increasing peak Kootenai River flows Ongoing Current FY 2006 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bonneville Power Administration Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 118 Use existing authorities to conserve and restore Kootenai River white sturgeon. Ongoing Current FY 2006 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bonneville Power Administration, U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Section 7 consultation on Libby dam operations.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 121 Monitor potential residential or agricultural flooding, levee erosion, and groundwater seepage resulting from flow augmentation. Ongoing Current FY 2006 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Concurrent with Task 112
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 122 Identify opportunities to restore natural floodplain functions along the Kootenai River Ongoing Current FY 2007 FY 2009 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bonneville Power Administration, Kootenai River White Sturgeon Recovery Team, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho Management: Planning, Research: General, Research: Habitat Status, Research: Habitat Requirements Contract Part of overall ecosystem restoration plan as required by 2006 Libby BiOp RPA
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 123 Develop public information program to explain USACE past and current flood control compensation program. Ongoing Current FY 2000 - FY 2004 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected 1-2 year public information program.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 124 Monitor impacts of flow augmentation on Kootenai River levees and Kootenay Lake in British Columbia Ongoing Current FY 2000 - FY 2004 British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land, and Air Protection, Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected New monitoring program may be needed.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 125 Assess consolidation of white sturgeon spawning and incubation, habitat quality, and potential substrate improvement measures. Ongoing Current FY 2006 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Idaho Department of Fish and Game Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Funded as part of Task 321
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 211 Obtain necessary local, State, Tribal, Federal, and Canadian approval and permits for all conservation aquaculture activities. Ongoing Current FY 2000 - FY 2004 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Need to obtain permits annually e.g. Section 10
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 221 Determine water quality standards for KTOI hatchery Complete FY 2000 - FY 2004 FY 2000 - FY 2004 Bonneville Power Administration, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected 1 year as part of Task 224
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 222 Upgrade KTOI hatchery to meet conservation aquaculture objectives. Complete FY 2000 - FY 2004 FY 2000 - FY 2004 Bonneville Power Administration, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Complete upgrade begun in 1998. Cost accrued beginning in 1998.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 223 Maintain Kootenai Trout: trout hatchery as a secondary rearing facility Complete FY 2000 - FY 2004 FY 2000 - FY 2004 Bonneville Power Administration, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Contract costs part of dollars allocated as part of task 222.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 224 Implement the conservation aquaculture program Ongoing Current FY 2000 - FY 2004 Bonneville Power Administration, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Costs of operating existing KTOI hatchery, out year costs be higher if hatchery is expanded.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 231 Use adopted white sturgeon broodstock collection protocol Complete FY 2000 - FY 2004 FY 2005 Bonneville Power Administration, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Idaho Department of Fish and Game Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Funded as part of Task 224
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 232 Collect adequate numbers of male and female broodstock to maintain the genetic quality Ongoing Current FY 2000 - FY 2004 Bonneville Power Administration, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Idaho Department of Fish and Game Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Funded as part of Task 224.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 233 Annually evaluate the conservation aquaculture program. Ongoing Current FY 2000 - FY 2004 Bonneville Power Administration, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Funded as part of Task 224 will be evaluated annually.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 241 Evaluate appropriate production goals. Ongoing Current FY 2006 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bonneville Power Administration, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land, and Air Protection, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Funded as part of Task 224.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 242 Develop a fish health plan for hatchery. Complete FY 2000 - FY 2004 FY 2006 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bonneville Power Administration, U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries), U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program, Northwest Power and Conservation Council, Pacific Fishery Management Council, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land, and Air Protection, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Funded as part of Task 224.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 243 Develop tagging protocols for hatchery reared white sturgeon. Ongoing Current FY 1995 - FY 1999 Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land, and Air Protection, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Funded as part of Task 224.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 2 244 Develop a policy for hatchery white sturgeon produced in excess of beneficial uses identified in this plan. Ongoing Current FY 1995 - FY 1999 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bonneville Power Administration, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land, and Air Protection, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected May require need for Section 10 permits. Funded as part of 223.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 245 Evaluate feasibility of establishing an experimental white sturgeon population outside of the current occupied range. Ongoing Current FY 2006 Natural Resources Conservation Service , U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bonneville Power Administration, U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries), U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program, Northwest Power and Conservation Council, Pacific Fishery Management Council, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land, and Air Protection, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Recovery Team unanimously recommended to the Service at November, 2007 KRWSRT meeting that the Service explore the possibility of establishing an experimental, "failsafe" population in Koocanusa Reservoir, although not as a top priority.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 25 Release hatchery reared white sturgeon into the Kootenai River basin Ongoing Current FY 1995 - FY 1999 Natural Resources Conservation Service , U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bonneville Power Administration, U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries), U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program, Northwest Power and Conservation Council, Pacific Fishery Management Council, Commission on Water Resources Management, Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land, and Air Protection, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Funded as part of Task 224
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 251 Adjust white sturgeon releases as necessary, to meet objectives of the Kincaid breeding plan. Ongoing Current FY 1995 - FY 1999 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bonneville Power Administration, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Funded as part of Task 224
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 261 Determine factors limiting production (natural and hatchery) and habitat use patterns for each life history stage. Ongoing Current FY 2000 - FY 2004 Bonneville Power Administration, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Funded as part of Task 321.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 2 311 Sample adult and juvenile white sturgeon in the Kootenai River and Kootenay Lake Ongoing Current FY 1995 - FY 1999 Bonneville Power Administration, British Columbia, Canada, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land, and Air Protection, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Funded as part of Task 321.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 2 312 Collect and preserve tissue and blood samples for genetic analysis system. Ongoing Current FY 2000 - FY 2004 Bonneville Power Administration, British Columbia, Canada, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land, and Air Protection, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Funded as part of Task 321.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 2 313 Compile catch data to refine white sturgeon population size estimates annually in the Kootenai River basin. Ongoing Current FY 2000 - FY 2004 Bonneville Power Administration Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Funded as part of Task 321. Kramer Fish Sciences submitted a draft revised population estimate in August, 2010. Draft is currently being reviewed.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 2 314 Develop a juvenile white sturgeon year class index. Complete FY 2000 - FY 2004 FY 2000 - FY 2004 Bonneville Power Administration, Idaho Department of Fish and Game Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Funded as part of Task 321.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 321 Describe response of spawning white sturgeon to various Kootenai River flows, water temperatures, and Kootenay Lake elevations. Ongoing Current FY 2006 U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries), Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land, and Air Protection, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected 120 K of this total is for monitoring effects of augmentation in Kootenai Reservoir.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 322 Measure white sturgeon spawning annually. Ongoing Current FY 2006 Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Funded as part of Task 321.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 323 Measure white sturgeon larval, fry, and juvenile abundance and distribution in the Kootenai River and Kootenay Lake annually. Ongoing Current FY 2006 Bonneville Power Administration, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Funded as part of Task 321.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 2 324 Quantify sturgeon spawning incubation habitat and early rearing habitat using IFIM Ongoing Current FY 1995 - FY 1999 Bonneville Power Administration, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Begin in 1997, funded as part of 321.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 2 331 Assess the necessity of increasing nutrients in the Kootenai River. Complete FY 2000 - FY 2004 FY 2005 Bonneville Power Administration, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Funded as part of Task 321.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 2 332 Use computer modeling to refine and analyze recovery tasks. Ongoing Current FY 2007 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land, and Air Protection Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Either 1996 or 1997
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 2 341 Compile existing information on contaminants in the Kootenai River Ongoing Current FY 2008 Bonneville Power Administration, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Idaho Department of Fish and Game Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Funded as part of Task 331.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 2 342 Conduct contaminant bioassays to evaluate the effects of selected chemicals on white sturgeon. Ongoing Current FY 2007 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bonneville Power Administration, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho Research: Environmental Contaminants Internal Technical Assistance Part of recovery task 331. FY07 - conducting studies on effects of chlorine on sturgeon.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 41 Develop a Participation Plan to support implementation of the Kootenai River white sturgeon recovery plan Ongoing Current FY 2006 British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land, and Air Protection, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Natural Resources Conservation Service , U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bonneville Power Administration, U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries), U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program, Northwest Power and Conservation Council, Pacific Fishery Management Council, Idaho Department of Fish and Game Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Will be completed as part of final recovery plan.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 2 421 Recommend additional research and management regarding ecosystem and fishery improvement measures for the Kootenai River Basin. Not Started Kootenai River White Sturgeon Recovery Team Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Ongoing as needed.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 3 44 Determine the indirect recovery needs of foregone power generation. Ongoing Current FY 2000 - FY 2004 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bonneville Power Administration, British Columbia Hydropower Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 511 Collect baseline abundance, distribution and reproduction data for kokanee in Idaho Kootenai River tributaries Ongoing Current FY 2000 - FY 2004 Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Ongoing.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 521 Determine distribution and life history of burbot Ongoing Current FY 2005 Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Ongoing.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 522 Determine secondary impacts from proposed flow augmentation program on burbot reproduction. Ongoing Current FY 2005 Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Costs part of Task 521.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 531 Determine the status, distribution and habitat use of rainbow trout in the Kootenai River from Libby Dam to Bonners Ferry Discontinued FY 2000 - FY 2004 Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Ongoing
Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus), White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 541 Determine distribution and status of bull trout in tributaries of the Kootenai River Ongoing Current FY 2000 - FY 2004 Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Started in 1996, ongoing.
Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus), White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 542 Identify additional conservation measures to protect bull trout in the Kootenai River drainage in Montana, Idaho and B.C. Ongoing Current FY 2000 - FY 2004 Bonneville Power Administration, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Using results from Task 541
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 1 551 Determine the secondary effects of proposed white sturgeon flow augmentation on mountain whitefish Discontinued FY 2000 - FY 2004 Bonneville Power Administration, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected
Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus), White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 3 561 Effects of flow augmentation on TGP in the Kootenay River and Columbia River downstream of Kootenay Lake. Complete FY 2000 - FY 2004 FY 2000 - FY 2004 British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land, and Air Protection, Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Canada projects
Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus), White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 3 562 Effects of flow augmentation on the Duncan and Arrow Reservoir/Lower systems Complete FY 2000 - FY 2004 FY 2006 British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land, and Air Protection, Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Canada projects.
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 3 6 Assess the overall success of implementation of the recovery plan and revise accordingly Ongoing Current FY 2007 Kootenai River White Sturgeon Recovery Team Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected
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