During our ongoing public consultations we clearly hear from Basin residents that there was a lack of environmental information and baseline data on the Koocanusa Reservoir. Basin residents express a strong desire for a Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program for the area, similar to the programs that exist for the other reservoirs in the Basin. The Columbia River Treaty Team participated in discussions between Columbia Basin Trust, the Ministry of Environment and BC Hydro to address this long-standing concern.

On April 11, 2013 Columbia Basin Trust announced the creation of the Kootenay-Koocanusa Fish and Wildlife Program, a new program to help protect and enhance fish, wildlife and habitats in and around Koocanusa Reservoir and its tributaries in the Kootenay River system. Columbia Basin Trust has committed $3-million to the regionally based Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program that will lead to a Kootenay-Koocanusa Watershed Action Plan which will set out goals and activities that will benefit fish and wildlife in the area. 

Congratulations Columbia Basin Trust and the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program for this significant achievement! More information can be found at www.cbt.org