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KOOTENAI RIVER, BOUNDARY COUNTY, IDAHO - WATER QUALITY STATUS REPORT, 1977
Description:
The Kootenai River (17010104) is a major tributary to the Columbia River, draining southern British Columbia, northwestern Montana, and portions of northern Idaho. One-third of the river lies in the United States, its source and mouth are in Canada. The vast majority of the drainage basin is forest land, with some agriculture in areas north of Bonners Ferry. Discharges to the river include: a municipal wastewater treatment facility and a potable water treatment plant in the City of Bonners Ferry, municipal wastewater discharges from Libby and Eureka, Montana, and a vermiculite mine and a lumber/plywood mill near Libby, Montana. Possible non-point wastewater sources are agricultural and silvicultural runoff and septic tank seepage. Much of the consistent water quality data for the Kootenai River cannot be used for analysis of a point source discharge impact. The report concludes that more water quality information on the Kootenai River would be helpful to determine impacts of other non-point sources. The comparative loadings from the Bonners Ferry lagoon show minimal impact on the Kootenai River, even though the facility does not consistently meet defined secondary treatment removals. Lagoon effluent disinfection would be required to correct localized in-stream violations of fecal coliform concentrations. Operation and maintenance assistance to the City may help improve lagoon effluent quality. The impact of the water treatment plant is minor compared to the sediment load of the Kootenai. Comer, L.E. 1977. Water Quality Series No. 27. Department of Health and Welfare, Division of Environment.