Communiqués

Maximum Kootenay Lake Levels This fall, Kootenay Lake levels have been in compliance with the International Joint Commission (IJC) Order of Approval , which sets the maximum allowed water level. During the late summer, the IJC maximum water level was 1743.32 feet (531.36 meters) at Nelson, British...

Due to low snowfall throughout the winter of 2023/2024, Kootenay Lake water levels are very low for this time of year. However, lake level operations remain in compliance with the International Joint Commission’s (IJC) 1938 Order of Approval. The Kootenay Lake water level on August 19 is the lowest...

The International Kootenay Lake Board of Control (IKLBC) is expanding its membership to increase local expertise and include Indigenous knowledge. The board is requesting letters of interest to fill a Canadian Public Member position. The board was established in 1938 by the International Joint...

Kootenay Lake operations have complied with the International Joint Commission’s (IJC) 1938 Order of Approval through the spring and summer, with the lake level peak occurring in early June and then decreasing to current levels. Inflows to Kootenay Lake peaked on May 17. The lake reached its 2024...

The International Kootenay Lake Board of Control, after consultation with FortisBC, has determined that “the commencement of the spring rise,” for purposes defined in the 1938 International Joint Commission Order on Kootenay Lake, occurred at 00:00 PDT on April 16, 2024. The maximum allowable level...

Following the release of the BC River Forecast Centre’s April 1 Snow and Water Supply bulletin, the International Kootenay Lake Board of Control (IKLBC) is able to provide an update on the late winter and early spring hydrological conditions in the Kootenay Lake watershed. Through the first three...

Wednesday, May 22, 2024, 6:30-8 p.m. (PDT) The International Kootenay Lake Board of Control will hold its annual public meeting at the Best Western Kootenai River Inn, located at 7196 Plaza St. in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, from 6:30-8 p.m. (PDT) Wednesday, May 22. There also will be an option to...

On September 1, 2023, the International Joint Commission (IJC) Rule Curve for Kootenay Lake level switched to using the Queens Bay gauge at elevation 1745.32 feet for compliance measurements. The Rule Curve lowers prior to September 1 to allow farmers in the Kootenai Flats region to work their...

Nelson, B.C. / Bonners Ferry, ID The annual meeting of the International Kootenay Lake Board of Control will be held Tuesday, September 19, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. (PDT) in Nelson, British Columbia. The public is encouraged to attend. This meeting is regarding the regulation of Kootenay Lake and the...

A new web-based tool provides information to better understand the complexities, competing interests and physical limitations in the management of Kootenay Lake’s water levels. You can access the Kootenay Lake Visualization Tool on the International Kootenay Lake Board of Control (IKLBC) website at...

The International Kootenay Lake Board of Control, after consultation with FortisBC on Corra Linn Dam operations, has determined that “the commencement of the spring rise” for purposes defined in the 1938 International Joint Commission Order on Kootenay Lake occurred at 00:00 PDT on April 30, 2023...

The International Kootenay Lake Board of Control is releasing an Information Paper which includes information about Kootenay Lake to support potential future research. The paper was used to inform the board’s decision of whether to recommend an International Joint Commission (IJC) review of its 1938...

The International Kootenay Lake Board of Control will hold its annual public meeting at the Best Western Kootenai River Inn Casino in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, at 7:00 p.m. (PDT) on October 5. There will also be the option to participate virtually.

Following multiple atmospheric river events in November, during which Southern BC and Washington State were subjected to periods of heavy precipitation, Kootenay Lake levels rose rapidly from below-normal to historical maximum levels for the autumn season. As a result, the elevation of Kootenay Lake...

Kootenay Lake levels have risen rapidly following heavy sustained rainfall and rising temperatures from the Category 5 atmospheric river which hit southern BC and Washington State last week. Increased discharge in the Duncan and Kootena(i) Rivers (Figure 1), along with smaller tributaries, resulted...

​​​​​​​The current level of Kootenay Lake is at its lowest level for mid-August since Water Survey of Canada (WSC) records began in 1928.