The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1947-04-03
Will Consider
Dam Sites
On K00fendi
Sites for High Dams are
Katka, Tunnel Number 8
KOOtenai Falls and Libby
HIGH POSSIBILITIES
FOR POWER PROJECTS

The announcement of a publ
hearing April II in the COURTEOUS
at Libby, was announced in the las
issue of The Western News. Al
article written by Colonel l. +
Hewitt, district engineer, Seattle
pertaining to potential major de
velopments in flood control on tn
Kootenai, was also published il
connection with the announcement
of the hearing. The last of Colone
Hewitt's articles on this subjec
follows:
The Kootenai constitutes ma
jOr division of the present invest
cations and is of particular con
Germ to residents of the Panhandle
and northwestern Montana as it hai
produced very destructive floods
Means to control these floods have
been under consideration by the
Corps of Engineers but action on To-
cal measures has been deferred un
til the merits of possible storage
projects in the United States coulo
be 9scertained, The current investi-
cations are aimed at giving a partial
answer to that question. Eight dam
sites on Kootenai River in the United
States have now been explored for
foundation conditions, of which five
have been found to offer the best
possibilities for development. The
five sites provide opportunity for
a variety of alternative single-dam
or combination developments.
The Moyie site is located on Koo-
tenai River 2 miles above the mouth
of Moyie River and nine miles a
bove Boomers Ferry. The Katka
site is less than miles above the
Moyie site and about a mile down
stream from Katka siding of the
Great Northern Railway Tunnel
No. 8 site, between Pine Greek and
Y AJAX River, and about % miles up
stream from Boomers Ferry, takes
its name from the Great Northern
tunnel nearby. At K0otenai Falls
a location just below the falls APP
pears to be more favorable than
one just above the falls. The so
called Libby site actually lies ii
miles upstream from Libby, near
Jennings.
A single high dam at Katka, Tun-
mel No. 8, or Kootenai Falls would
provide maximum flood control
of to 10 million acre-feet.
A 2-dam plan, with a low dam at
Moyie or Katka and a high dam at
Kootenai Falls or Libby site also
appears feasible. This latter COM
bination would avoid serious flow
age difficulties at the town of Libby,
and may prove to be the most de-
sirable. There are great power po-
the total fall of approximately $50
feet on Kootenai River in the Uni
ted States A high degree of regu-
lation through storage would add
greatly to the prime power avail
able at all downstream sites in the
United States and Canada, as we'll
These benefits would improve the
status of the project,
The choice of the best overall
plan for Kootenai River develop
ment does not rest alone upon the
studies of physical and economic [
factors. High-level development
would extend the reservoir into
Canada and require Canadian APP !
prevail and assistance. The amount
IF storage desirable in this country |
will depend also on what may be
provided by the Canadians on their
side.
Public Hearings
That part of the Corps of En- +
ginners' findings concerning the pos
iible developments of Kootenai
River outlined above will be pre-
;ented in detail to the citizens of
IDAHO and Montana at local hearings
% be held before the report is
The testimony and sug-
,estions presented at the hearings
will receive full consideration in the
inal report. This procedure, es-
ablished by the Corps of Engineers,
makes known the views of all in
erests so that the Congress, the :
State authorities, and each COM
nunity may have clearly in mind
he essential facts upon which to /
the merits of each pro-
,osal that may be made for water
'esource development Similar hear
ngs will be held in other parts of
he Columbia River Basin.
Comprehensive Planning for Future
The scope of the investigations is
% far-reaching geographically, and
he utilization of this great re-
ource as it may eventually take
orm is so significant to the. future
economy of the Northwest, as to
a new concept in public
works planning. No final, rigid
Ian that will be valid for all time
S practicable. Rather it is in
ended first, to present such infor-
nation and recommendations as may
lssist the people Of the region and
heir legislative representatives to
elect projects to meet immediate
reeds; and End, to evaluate within
ne limits Of economic foresight the
for later developments
% that, when needed, these may be