Annual drawdown begins

SANDPOINT - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is increasing outflows at Albeni Falls Dam and lowering the level of Lake Pend Oreille.

The corps is targeting a level of 2,060 feet by Sept. 30.

Outflows at the dam were increased from 15,000 cubic feet per second to 17,000 cfs on Monday, the corps said in a news release. The current elevation of the lake is 2,061.5 feet.

The lake is typically drafted from full to 1-2 feet from full each September. The lake should be at winter pool by mid-November.

Inflows are typically at their lowest levels in September and early October, but fall rains and other considerations may require some outflow adjustments to reach target elevations.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service have been a recommendation on the minimum winter pool to aid kokanee recovery efforts. Kokanee are forage base for the lake's threatened bull trout.

Fish and Game and U.S. Fish and Wildlife are expected to submit a formal request to the corps through the interagency technical management team on Sept. 28.

They are expected to recommend that the corps set the minimum winter pool level at 2,051 feet this winter and 2,055 feet next winter.

The corps will issue a news release when a decision is made later this month.