Leopards of the Kootenai Barely Hanging On

ÔLeopards' of the Kootenai Barely Hanging On The world's only species of freshwater cod, the burbot (a.k.a. ling), is barely hanging on in the Kootenai River of Idaho and British Columbia. Burbot in the Kootenai River were affectionately nicknamed the Leopards of the Kootenai because of their striking color pattern resembling a leopard. In Idaho, the burbot is native only to the Kootenai River where anglers once harvested thousands of fish during winter ice fishing. Historically important to the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Native Americans built weirs on tributaries to the Kootenai River where burbot spawned during winter. Burbot were held in high regard because they arrived during the winter, a critical time of year for those that depended on the land for food. Abundant prior to the construction of Libby Dam in the early 1970s, burbot numbers started to diminish soon after the dam blocked the Kootenai River. Recent surveys by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game show burbot population numbers continue to decline. Sport fisheries were closed long ago in both Idaho and British Columbia. Disappointingly, burbot numbers have not improved. Researchers with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game contend the high flows created during winter when water is released through Libby Dam inhibit migration of many burbot to tributaries and main-stem reaches of the river. As a result, most do not spawn. The high flows are one of several problems that confront recovery of burbot. Burbot in the Kootenai River are under a process for consideration for endangered species status by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Such listing would require changes to the operation of Libby Dam. Recent efforts by managing agencies like the Idaho Department of Fish and Game; the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho; and the British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land, and Air Protection have resulted in a Conservation Strategy to recover burbot. The next step was for other agencies like the US Army Corps of Engineers and Bonneville Power Administration to join in a Conservation Agreement to make the document legally binding. Under such an agreement endangered species listing could be avoided. In the winter of 2001-2002, the Kootenai Valley Resource Initiative (comprised of local government in Boundary Co.) joined in with the governors Office of Species Conservation and Conservationists to help recover burbot. In late October 2002 the Kootenai River burbot subcommittee of the Kootenai Valley Resource Initiative (KVRI) provided the Bonneville Power Administration with a Systems Operation Request (SOR) for burbot migration and spawning flow. The SOR requested a flow range of 6,000-10,000 cfs from Libby Dam for 45 days starting December 15, 2002. Although the SOR was turned down by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), they began reducing flows a week later from full powerhouse of 25,000 cfs. Flows reached 5,000 cfs on December 29, 2002. KVRI members and conservationists all hope the low flows will continue through January and provide minimal but adequate conditions for burbot migration and spawning. The only recent year burbot in the Kootenai River were thought to have spawned was the winter of 2000-2001 when exceptionally low precipitation forced the U S Army Corps of Engineers and BPA to keep flows in the river at around 6,000 cfs, similar to natural winter flow before Libby Dam. Managers of Kootenai River burbot still have hopes that the BPA and US Army Corps of Engineers will join with them and a Conservation Agreement to recover the Leopards of the Kootenai and avoid federal listing under the Endangered Species Act.