Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge Floodplain Reconnection Project (DOE/EA-2276)

Boundary County, Idaho

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) proposes to provide funding to the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho (KTOI) to restore floodplain connectivity to the Kootenai River historical floodplains within the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge (KNWR) in Boundary County, Idaho near Bonners Ferry, Idaho. 

The KNWR is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The USFWS and the KTOI are the project sponsors. The project’s reconnection activities would include breaching levees, raising roads, replacing water control structures, enhancing wetlands, and re-establishing wetland connections. All of these actions would occur within an overall project area of about 2,330 acres.
 

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:

To understand the potential environmental impacts of this proposal, BPA prepared an environmental assessment (EA) following the procedures of the National Environmental Policy Act. The EA analyzed BPA’s proposed funding for the KNWR Floodplain Reconnection Project, as well as a no-action alternative in which BPA would not fund the project and it would not be implemented. The EA described anticipated impacts to natural and human resources and identifies mitigation measures to help avoid or minimize impacts. The draft EA was released for public review and comment in September 2024; comments were received on the draft EA from five individuals and three entities. The final EA includes minor revisions from the draft EA and responses to these comments.

The USFWS is a cooperating agency in the preparation of the EA to support its decision-making for proposed modifications to Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge management. The USFWS’ project-specific webpage can be accessed here:  https://www.fws.gov/project/kootenai-national-wildlife-refuge-floodplain-reconnection-project.

The proposed schedule for the environmental review is as follows:

Scoping comment period - April 18, 2024 to May 18, 2024

Public scoping meetings - April 30, 2024

EA determination - September 6, 2024

Draft EA available for public comment - September 18, 2024

Final EA - April 16, 2025

Finding of No Significant Impact - April 2, 2025

Construction start - Summer 2025

 

CURRENT STATUS:

BPA released its final EA and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The FONSI includes a Mitigation Action Plan to help avoid or lessen potential impacts.

 

CONTACT:

For environmental information, contact:
Ted Gresh
Senior Environmental Protection Specialist
Bonneville Power Administration – ECF-4
PO Box 3621 Portland, Oregon 97208-3621
Toll-free: 800-622-4519
Direct line: 503-230-5756
Email: esgresh@bpa.gov

For project information, contact:
Elizabeth Santana
Fish and Wildlife Project Manager
Bonneville Power Administration – EWM-4
PO Box 3621 Portland, Oregon 97208-3621
Toll-free: 800-622-4519
Direct line: 503-230-3560
Email: easantana@bpa.gov

 

DOCUMENTS:

FINAL & FONSI:

Final EA – 508 Compliant April 2024
Final EA – Track Changes April 2024
FONSI and Mitigation Action Plan April 2, 2024
Public Letter April 16, 2024

DRAFT:

Comments received
Public Letter September 18, 2024
Comment Form September 18, 2024
Draft EA  September 2024

EA Determination  September 6, 2024

SCOPING:
Scoping comments received Public Letter  April 18, 2024 Project Map April 18, 2024 Comment Form  April 18, 2024 Public Meeting Posterboard PDF