23911 Scenic HWY 37 The Montana band of the Ktunaxa is today part of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation. “Keep in mind that even before the dam, the Kootenai River was in a part of the state that geologically made the river far less productive than, say, the Bighorn or the Madison,” says Jim Dunnigan, FWP fisheries biologist in Libby. A reservoir out of nowhere ∙ There wasn’t enough room for that many young trout, so numbers declined.” What’s more, for years British Columbia allowed liberal bull trout limits on the Kootenay River and its half of Lake Koocanusa. During the past decade, kokanee have also boosted numbers of federally endangered bull trout. scattered up and down the reservoir’s Montana half, as well as several private campgrounds and marinas. Most of that was anglers targeting kokanee, and the rest was anglers catching rainbows or bull trout that feed on kokanee. “They generally keep kokanee 10 inches and longer, and when they reach a foot or more, that’s considered a respectable fish. Many of the crags feature permanent bolts that facilitate easy rigging. The Athabasca Sand Dunes are estimated to be approximately 8,000 years old, formed near the end of the last glacial period. Go to Quick Links on right and Food Storage and Sanitation. Visitors will find a half-dozen U.S. Forest Service campgrounds and picnic areas Reaching from Libby dam to north of Cranbrook British Columbia, Canada. Then click FOOD STORAGE AND MAP for full rules that apply to all Forest Service and State property. Connecting Libby and Eureka, the 67-mile route follows Kootenai Rive and Lake Koocanusa via State Highway 37. ∙ The Kootenay Trout Hatchery is a British Columbia facility that was built in 1965 on what Yet another factor, says Dunnigan, “could be that the population overshot the Wigwam River’s juvenile bull trout rearing capacity. The flies twitch and dart just beneath the water surface behind planer boards, which take the streamers 200 yards out from either side of the craft. Libby, MONTANA 59923 fishery ever since. However you choose to do it, enjoy a cool, rejuvenating swim. A study found that 63 percent of the phosphorus and 25 percent of the nitrogen that enters the reservoir binds with sediment and becomes trapped behind the dam. Newcomers arrive Our cancelation policy is as follows: You will need a valid Credit Card at time of reservation, Cancelations or date changes must be made 20 days before your arrival, You must send a cancelation or date change request, via email followed by a phone call. The lake's deep blue water and tree-lined shore nestled amid the mountains of the Purcell and Salish Ranges puts you in a majestic wilderness setting where the air is pure and fresh. Find the perfect Lake Koocanusa vacation rental on Tripping.com. 406.293.7474. Biologists on both sides of the border are working to make harvest regulations throughout the reservoir similar. The Ktunaxa fished and hunted the region for hundreds of years, We have put in a central trash building where you are to bring your trash and we will dispose of it. Remind your kids to watch for the bighorn sheep that often lounge on the byway’s rocky ledges. The fish in Montana’s portion of the Kootenai became landlocked about 10,000 years ago when retreating glaciers in British Columbia created Bonnington Falls. Much of the mines’ waste rock contains high selenium concentrations in the lake in the mid-2000s, the issue escalated to the governor’s office and Washington, D.C. 1- 27ft DOUBLE DECKER WITH SLIDE pontoon, holds 15 people. That calorie-rich food source grew the massive rainbow that was caught in 1997 by Jack Housel, Jr. 2 bedrooms, House 1 bedroom, Apartment There is to be no trash left outside at any campers or tent sites or cabins unattended at anytime. If you love snow, bring the family to the lake for a winter wonderland. Leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind when you vacation at Lake Koocanusa on the border of northwestern Montana and Canada. The structure seems to have hampered the species’ reproductive success downstream, though biologists are not sure why. THE NEW RENTAL PONTOONS HAVE ARRIVED!!!! Encouraged by the increase, FWP successfully petitioned the U.S. In response, FWP made bull trout catch-and-release only. But leave your waders and drift boat at home. 13 Prettiest Places to Take Engagement Photos in the U.S. 10 Best Places to Take a Summer Vacation in California. Because redd counts in the past few years have risen and then leveled off at around 1,400, FWP is considering allowing some bull trout harvest on the Montana side starting next year. Lake Koocanusa has a water span of 95 miles. There are 50 miles of water in Canada and 45 miles in Montana. Our cancelation policy is as follows: You will need a valid Credit Card at time of reservation, Cancelations or date changes must be made 20 days before your arrival, You must send a cancelation or date change request, via email followed by a phone call. Anglers caught abundant 12- and 13-inch kokanee up until about 2000. A short ride takes you to Yarnell Island, a primitive camping and picnic site. ∙ “On average, we’re catching 3- to 5-pound trout. occasional bull trout that anglers catch (but must release) adds to the river’s backcountry ambiance. While FWP was experimenting with cutthroat stocking, their counterparts north of the border were inadvertently sending new, non-native salmonids into the lake. Copyright © 2003-2017 Montana Outdoors. There are 50 miles of water in Canada and 45 miles in Montana. 8 guests Silver Lake Sand Dunes State Park is one of the few areas in the country that users can still enjoy riding freely on sand dunes. The Elk River watershed alone is home to five open-pit mines, owned and operated by Teck Coal, with plans for extensive expansion. 2 bedrooms, 10 Best Places to Take a Summer Vacation in Montana, 9 Best Memorial Day Weekend Getaways in Montana, 7 Best Bachelor Party Destinations in Montana. The Ktunaxa Experience the myriad of backwoods trails where you and your family can enjoy exquisite views of the distant Whitefish Range, visible from the Tobacco Valley outside Eureka, sweeping vistas of Lake Koocanusa, and the pristine Purcell and Salish Mountain Ranges. concentrations of selenium—an element that can kill embryos of fish and aquatic insects. Environmental Quality (DEQ) discovered elevated When scientists with the Montana Department of The clean, turquoise water, sandstone cliffs, and surrounding mountains make it as pretty as any lake in the state. ∙ Tripping.com is the world's #1 vacation rental search engine with over 10 million properties! Though state water quality guidelines in Koocanusa’s Montana portion have not been exceeded, selenium levels have increased in recent years. Those wanting a closer look must drive 5 miles down the unmarked dirt road leading past Lake Hill, then hike cross-country 3 … Click … Nearby Rexford and Eureka have a variety of quaint motels, rustic cabins, ranch resorts, and cozy bed-and-breakfast inns. Established in 1987, we are a private campground with long-term (yearly) leased sites located just over the Bailey Bridge on Lake Koocanusa, BC, Canada. The park has fresh water coastal dunes that are over 200 feet tall. 3 bedrooms, Apartment Beyond the miles of sand and shoreline, the Silver Lake Sand Dunes Area is also known for its scenic parks, treasured historic sites, and valued commerce. Bringing your own boat? The Look for the log cabin shelter below the Big Creek Baldy Lookout. If you’ve never heard of Koocanusa’s rainbows—much less its big bull trout and small-but-abundant kokanee—you’re not alone. If you do not cancel or change dates 20 days before arrival, your card will be charged the full amount for the dates you originally reserved. The Rainbow fishing has been GREAT!!!! The owners invite all visitors to enjoy their inflatable slides, jumping pillows, and bouncers, which are all connected together and floating in the beautiful blue lake. logging as an economic staple in northwestern Montana, both extractive industries are still booming in British Columbia, especially near the Kootenai River’s headwaters. The slow-growing species was also aggressively harvested for meat. It turns out that oil-rich kokanee are like double bacon cheeseburgers to big trout. Rain and snow falling on the waste rock stockpiles leaches selenium into the river system and then to Lake Koocanusa. No jumping off top deck. ALL RESERVATIONS MUST HAVE A DEPOSIT TO BE BOOKED. Fines or warnings are your responsibility and have nothing to do with us.This is Forest Service Property. periodically venturing east over the Continental Divide to hunt bison. Yet far fewer anglers compete for trout on the Kootenai. ∙ Sunshine Houseboats and Marina on the lake offer rentals, including pontoon boats, fishing boats, and jet skis. “Unlike mercury, selenium is an essential mineral and can be metabolized by most living creatures,” says Mike Hensler, FWP biologist in Libby. Come see this beautiful resort set in the Kootenai National Forest. Lifeguards maintain safety rules and assist with fitting life jackets, which are available on-site if you leave yours at the vacation rental cottage. Though one of the largest reservoirs in Montana, Koocanusa is known mainly to locals and Canadians who flock to its clear waters and scenic shorelines in spring, summer, and fall. Surprise the kids with a picnic on an island. But that’s a big ‘if.’”. averaged 65,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) during spring runoff each year, then could drop to below 3,000 cfs in August. ∙ It covers 1,076 acres of open sand dunes, surrounded by forests and adjacent to the Pacific Ocean. As glaciers receded, meltwater washed enormous quantities of sand, silt and sediment from local sandstone into Lake Athabasca, whose water level was at the time much higher than currently. Surrounded by National Forest property this resort offers lake side cabins, RV sites, marina, laundry facilities, fully stocked store, gift shop, bar and restaurant. Ten miles southwest of Rexford, Lake Koocanusa Bridge spans the reservoir, providing access to both shorelines. During the 1970s, while trying to figure out why some of their kokanee were dying after hatching, the hatchery flushed large numbers of the fish thought to be dead into Lake Koocanusa. Yet the hydropower structure also traps phosphorus and nitrogen in Lake Koocanusa, thus depriving aquatic life below the dam of much-needed nutrients.