Idaho Lakes Commission to meet Tuesday, Dec. 16

DOVER - The Idaho Lakes Commission will discuss the abandonment of a proposal to use releases from Lake Pend Oreille to moderate downstream water temperatures when it meets on Tuesday, Dec. 16.

The meeting starts at 9 a.m. at Dover City Hall.

The controversial plan to use Lake Pend Oreille water to improve bull trout habitat below the Albeni Falls Dam was officially removed from an agreement between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bonneville Power Administration and the Kalispel Tribe in October.

The agencies and the tribe resolved to find alternative ways to address temperature issues and impacts on bull trout and other fish species.

The move came after the original plan drew intense opposition from local residents who feared earlier-than-normal drawdowns would hinder lake access and badly wound the local recreation economy.

The basin commission will also take in updates on the Lake Pend Oreille fishery and the Priest Lake fisheries project. The Idaho Department of Fish & Game's Andy Dux will give a presentation on the former update and Jim Fredericks will present on the latter update.

The Idaho Conservation League's Susan Drumheller and the Priest Community Forest Connection's Liz Johnson-Gebhardt are also slated to bring the commission up to speed on the proposed Pend Oreille lake and river trails.