Lake Koocanusa investigations final report, 1972-1983

Abstract

Many people have worked on this project through the years and contributed to the success of the study. Fisheries fieldmen Bill Bothman and Jim Steffes spent many long hours in the field tending fish traps and sampling fish populations under adverse weather conditions throughout the year. Other Department personnel who assisted in the project include Gary

Quantification of Libby Reservoir Levels Needed to Maintain or Enhance Reservoir Fisheries, 1983-1987 Methods and Data Summary.

“…One impact resulting from a fluctuating reservoir environment is the loss of terrestrial vegetation in the fluctuation zone and the lack of littoral zone development due to water level fluctuations . Potential effects attributed to the loss of near-shore vegetation in Libby Reservoir include the reduction in numbers of redside shiners because of a reduction in suitable spawning substrates (Huston et al 1984), increased sedimentation caused by fluctuating water levels washing exposed banks, and a reduction in the ability to cycle nutrients through vegetation. We wanted to determine the potential of revegetating the fluctuation zone in Libby Reservoir.…”

“…Spring sampling in the Rexford area with sinking gill nets has been used to sample the relative abundance of suckers, mountain whitefish, bull trout, and burbot (Huston et al 1984). Fall sampling in the Rexford and Tenmile (termed Cripple Horse by Huston et al 1984) areas with floating gill nets has been used to sample the relative abundance of rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, hybrids between the two preceding species, redside shiners, northern squawfish, and peamouth (Huston et al 1984). We continued this annual sampling following criteria described by Huston et al (1984).…”

Quantification of Libby Reservoir Levels Needed to Maintain or Enhance Reservoir Fisheries, 1990-1994 Investigations of Fish Entrainment Through Libby Dam.

“…The entrainment of kokanee through Libby Dam was observed as early as 1981 (Huston, Hamlin and May 1984).…”

Fisheries Habitat Evaluation on Tributaries of the Coeur d`Alene Indian Reservation : 1990 Annual Report.

“…Spawning populations of cutthroat trout tend to have a higher ratio of females to males. From one Idaho and three Montana streams, sex ratio was 3.4:1 (Huston et. al.…”

“…Bjornn (1957) determined that 64 percent of fish examined in creel surveys were females. Huston et. al.…”