A biologist with Idaho Fish and Game says the spawning season for endangered white sturgeon in the Kootenai River in northern Idaho was a bit delayed this year.
Pete Rust tells the Daily Inter Lake that adhesive mats on the river bottom didn’t start collecting eggs until May 31, about two weeks later than normal.
Biologist Brian Marotz of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks says flows from Libby Dam in Montana stayed just below flood stage for a month.
Dam officials had planned a spill test to release additional water to help sturgeon reach spawning grounds but the high snowpack made that unnecessary this year.
Rust says four female sturgeon tagged with sonic transmitters were detected moving into spawning areas upstream of Bonners Ferry in Idaho.