F20 Kootenay Lake nutrient restoration program – North Arm
To address the nutrient losses in Kootenay Lake, as a result of the construction of the Duncan and Libby dams, a bottom-up approach is taken with the addition of nitrogen and phosphorus. Nitrogen and phosphorus are added in the form of liquid agricultural grade fertilizer to support phytoplankton populations that are suitable for the production of Daphnia, a main food source for Kokanee.
Final report: executive summary
Nutrient additions occurred in the North and South Arms of Kootenay Lake following the same tug and barge method as in 2018 (Peck et al. 2019). Note: the South Arm program is funded by the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho (additional information is listed in the Acknowledgements). In the North Arm a total of 40.0 MT of phosphorus and 234.4 MT of Nitrogen were added in the form of liquid agricultural grade fertilizers (additions began in early May and ceased near the end of September). In the South Arm, 196 MT of Nitrogen was added between early July and ceased beginning of September; reduced loading in 2019 occurred due to increased ambient nitrogen inputs from the Kootenay River.
Click the provincial database link below to read the full final report for this project.
Kootenay Lake Bull Trout Redd Counts 2019 Data Report: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/acat/public/viewReport.do?reportId=59019