It was one year ago last October the Kootenai
Tribe of Idaho opened the new Twin Rivers
Sturgeon and Burbot Hatchery, a state-of-the-art
hatchery really unlike any in the world.Now, after its first year of operation, the Hatchery is inviting the public for tours to view how it works in raising sturgeon and burbot as part of their larger program to restore thriving populations of these fish to the Kootenai River.
Later that same day, the tribe is hosting a public meeting at the Kootenai River Inn, where community members can learn about the on-going Kootenai River Habitat Restoration Program. This is the program that includes the heavy equipment work currently being done in the Kootenai River just upstream from the Kootenai Bridge. In addition to that ongoing construction project, many other river restoration projects have also been completed since 2011 as part of this program.
At the public meeting, the Tribe and its representatives will discuss the program goals and objectives, explain how the current project helps to achieve those, and answer questions about the program. Those attending the meeting will also be able to view the 2015 project from the deck of the meeting room.
The Hatchery tours begin at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, October 23, and will run until noon. The public information meeting at the Kootenai River Inn begins later that same day at 2:00 p.m. and will continue until 3:30 p.m.
For further information on these events, one may contact Susan Ireland, director of the Tribe's Fish and Wildlife Department, at 208-267-3620.
