Kootenay River

The Kootenay River flows from the Canadian Rockies through British Columbia, Montana, and Idaho before joining the Columbia River. Dams and reservoirs reshape much of its course.

Connect

Libby Dam: A dam on the Kootenai River in Montana that forms Lake Koocanusa. It controls downstream flows from the river’s largest United States reservoir.
Kootenay National Park: A national park in southeastern British Columbia that includes the upper Kootenay River valley. The river begins in this protected Rocky Mountain landscape.
Hydroelectricity in British Columbia: Electricity generated from flowing water at dams and power stations in British Columbia. Kootenay River dams and diversions contribute substantially to provincial hydropower.
Kootenay River white sturgeon recovery: Conservation efforts to restore the endangered white sturgeon population in the Kootenay River system. Its recovery depends on addressing spawning and habitat changes linked to river regulation.
Lake Koocanusa: A reservoir on the Kootenai River extending from Montana into British Columbia. Its waters store flow behind Libby Dam across an international border.
Kootenay River valley: A long valley in southeastern British Columbia shaped by the Kootenay River and its tributaries. It marks the river’s route through the Rocky Mountain Trench.
Flood control: Measures that reduce the damage caused by high water and inundation. Reservoirs in the basin store runoff to reduce downstream flood peaks.
Kootenay River flood of 1948: A major flood in the Kootenay River basin during the spring of 1948. The disaster helped spur later flood-control planning in the basin.
Kootenay Canal: A hydroelectric facility in British Columbia that diverts water from the Kootenay River through turbines. Its diversion generates power while returning water to the river downstream.
Elk River (British Columbia): A major tributary of the Kootenay River in southeastern British Columbia. It joins the Kootenay near the river’s passage through the Rocky Mountain Trench.