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Kootenai River White Sturgeon (Bony Fish) Conservation Timeline

  • Period: to

    20 Years of Conservation

  • Kootenai White Sturgeon declared endangered.

    Kootenai White Sturgeon declared endangered.
    September 6, 1994 – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declared the Kootenai River population of the white sturgeon to be endangered.
  • Suit filed for Critical Habitat Designation

    Suit filed for Critical Habitat Designation
    June 29, 1999 – The Center for Biological Diversity filed suit for critical habitat designation for the Kootenai River white sturgeon.
  • Recovery Plan initiated by The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

    Recovery Plan initiated by The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
    September 30, 1999- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service completed a recovery plan for the Kootenai River white sturgeon, which delayed final reform of Libby Dam for at least 10 years.
  • Judge Orders Critical Habitat Designation

    December 21, 2000 – After a federal judge ordered critical habitat designation for the Kootenai River white sturgeon, the Service proposed to designate 11.2 miles of an already-protected section of Kootenai River, containing inadequate spawning grounds, as critical habitat for the fish.
  • Expansion of Critical Habitat

    Expansion of Critical Habitat
    The Center for Biological Diversity and partners submitted comments to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service calling for an expansion of the critical habitat proposal that would include the entire U.S. section of the Kootenai River watershed.
  • Intent to Sue over Failed Conservation Practices

    May 7, 2002 – The Center of Biological Diversity and allies notified the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of their intent to sue over the Corps' failure to implement a water management plan for Libby Dam called for by the Fish and Wildlife Service.
  • Idaho declares 7 Miles of River Critical Habitat

    Idaho declares 7 Miles of River Critical Habitat
    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declared an additional 6.9 river miles in Boundary County, Idaho as critical habitat for the Kootenai River population of the white sturgeon.
  • Montana declares 7.1 miles of River Critical Habitat

    Montana declares 7.1 miles of River Critical  Habitat
    July 9, 2008 – The Fish and Wildlife Service finalized a rule granting the Kootenai River white sturgeon 7.1 additional river miles of critical habitat.