Lake Koocanusa water quality focus of meetings

The Kootenai River Network will host two public meetings this month to discuss water quality in Lake Koocanusa.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency and Geological Survey recently released the results of a water-quality study indicating “elevated levels of selenium in water and fish, and elevated nitrates in water, in the Kootenai River associated with upstream sources in Canada’s Elk Valley and Lake Koocanusa.”

Presenters at the meetings will provide updates on the development of a selenium site-specific criterion for Lake Koocanusa, and discuss coal-mining operations in the Elk River Valley and associated impacts on water quality in Montana.

According to the press release, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality will give an opening presentation on the status of efforts to develop a selenium site-specific criterion. The presentation will be followed by a panel discussion with representatives from the following organizations: Montana DEQ, U.S. EPA, British Columbia Ministry of Environmental and Climate Change Strategy, and Teck Coal Resources.

The first meeting will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12, at the Kirby Maki Theater, 724 Louisiana Ave. in Libby. The second meeting will be held in Eureka from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, at the Eureka High School auditorium, 340 Ninth Street.

Montana DEQ is also holding an annual meeting for the Lake Koocanusa Monitoring and Research Committee & Selenium Technical Subcommittee in Whitefish at the Grouse Mountain Lodge Nov. 13 to 14.