Pend Oreille

The Pend Oreille watershed (WRIA 62) is located in the northeastern-most corner of Washington State and shares borders with Canada to the north, Idaho to the east, and WRIA 55 to the south. It was one of 16 basins in Washington State for which an Initial Watershed Assessment was completed in 1995. The Pend Oreille watershed planning unit completed an initial technical assessment under the HB 2514 process in 2002, and will initiate the data collection and planning phases in earnest in early 2003.

Major areas that the WRIA 62 efforts are addressing include water quantity, water quality and habitat. The Pend Oreille River originates in Lake Pend Oreille in Idaho, flows through the WRIA 62 watershed, and then crosses into Canada. Because of international and state boundaries the WRIA planning area comprises only a small area of a much larger watershed. Natural conditions in the watershed have been impacted by three hydroelectric dams in or just upstream of WRIA 62 (Boundary Dam, Box Canyon Dam and Albeni Falls Dam). Pend Oreille County is rural in nature and the economy primarily depends on its natural resources, however, recent population growth in the southern part of the watershed has raised concerns on potential impacts on water availability.

The watershed planning effort is being lead by the Pend Oreille Conservation District. The Kalispel Tribe of Indians are also participating. For more information, please contact Don Comins. Pend Oreille County is represented on both WRIAs 55 and 62 planning units. Citizen concerns within WRIA 62 are the availability of water for irrigation and future development, protection of fisheries for recreational and cultural values, and the protection of environmental quality. Golder Associates is providing watershed planning services to the Pend Oreille Planning Unit.