The practise of lowering Lake Koocanusa by an average of 10 feet in August for the last 7 or 8 years is directly linked to Washington State agriculture. Most of the commercial agriculture in Washington is dependent on irrigation. Apples and potatoes grown in Washington get their water from the Columbia River system. I recently toured numerous fruit markets in Thailand. Washington apples were sold at almost all fruit markets in the Bangkok area. Anyone who has been to Thailand knows what a good deal locally grown Thai fruit is. For Washington State apple growers to flood Asian markets with cheap fruit is hard to swallow. The Libby Dam was originally designed as flood control and power for Seattle. It is now used as an irrigation pond for bloated industrial agriculture. If you like Lake Koocanusa please boycott Washington State apples and potatoes.
Calling Koocanusa a "lake" is a stretch, it is a US Army Corps. of Engineers created "reservoir". Before the destruction it was a beautiful river valley as it continues to be below the dam and above the head waters.
The reservoir best serves US interests as they control the water level.
The US lobbied for the Libby Dam to the BC gov’t. with recreational potential as a key selling point. The original intention of the reservoir is not being honoured. Lake Koocanusa generates a considerable amount of commercial activity for the Fernie area. Let’s protect our interests. Why let the US Army Corps let the fat cat agricultural lobby win the day?
The Kootenay hasn’t been a river in the South Country since 1970. That’s yesterday by a long shot.
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