Ducks, Dams and Deltas
SANDPOINT - The Clark Fork and Pack River deltas are known for their stunning vistas, unique flora and fauna, and great recreational opportunities.
Unfortunately, the deltas are also disappearing due to the phenomenal rate of erosion occurring along their shores.
Learn about the rich wetlands and abundant wildlife of the Clark Fork and Pack River deltas, the effects the operations of the Albeni Falls Dam continues to have on the deltas and the restoration work proposed for the area during "Ducks, Dams and Deltas," an Idaho Conservation League After Hours event Aug. 16 at the Pend Oreille Winery.
Guest speaker and Idaho Department of Fish and Game wildlife biologist, Kathy Cousins has been studying and working in the deltas for more than eight years, acquiring a vast knowledge of the area.
Cousins was a key player in the restoration work recently completed in the Pack River delta to provide cost-effective erosion control measures and restored wetland habitat. She is developing a similar restoration project that's proposed for the Clark Fork River Delta.
Cousins will share her stories about these projects and explain the critical ecological functions the deltas play in providing food and cover for fish and wildlife species, as well as the role of the deltas in filtering sediment flowing down the Pack and Clark Fork Rivers.
According to Cousins, the construction of the Albeni Falls Dam and the inundation of the lake in the 1950s destroyed an estimated 6,600 acres of wetlands and 8,900 acres of low-lying marshlands. The erosion of the shorelines and island areas on Lake Pend Oreille continues as a result of dam operations.
Because of the impacts of erosion and potential spread of aquatic invasive species, the Idaho Conservation League raised questions about the Bonneville Power Administration's proposal to fluctuate lake levels in the wintertime.
ICL and other critics called for a full-blown study of the impacts of the proposed winter fluctuations, but the BPA moved ahead with the plan without further study.
Last winter was the first season where flexible winter operations were practiced and the long-term impacts of those altered operations are unknown.
Learn about why these deltas are important and what ICL is doing to protect them during Ducks, Dams and Deltas, at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 16, at Pend d'Oreille Winery.
Enjoy a great glass of locally crafted wine or beer, grab a bite to eat and join in the discussions during this fun, free and informative evening.
Info: www.idahoconservation.org or 265-9565