Lake Koocanusa
Encyclopedia
Lake Koocanusa is a reservoir
in British Columbia
(Canada
) and Montana
(United States
) formed by the dam
ming of the Kootenai River by the Libby Dam
in 1975.
The lake is formed north of the dam, reaching 48 miles (77.2 km) to the Canadian border and 42 miles (67.6 km) further into British Columbia. The lake holds 13% of the water in the Columbia River system. The town of Rexford
was moved, as well as the Great Northern Railroad line. The town of Waldo,BC is now covered by the lake. What was once a barrier to river travel, Jennings Canyon is now inundated by the lake.
Lake Koocanusa was named in a contest won by Alice Beers of Rexford, Montana
. The name is made from the first three letters of the Kootenay (alternately, Kootenai) River, Canada, and USA.
Lake Koocanusa was built as a joint project of the U.S. and Canada. It is 26 km (16 mi) from Libby, Montana
, also on the Kootenai River, from which the dam gets its name. The Libby Dam
has a Visitors Center and can be accessed by the Lake Koocanusa Scenic Byway
which begins in the nearby town of Libby
, Montana
.
The Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail follows Highway 37 along the east side of the lake before crossing over the Lake Koocanusa Bridge and climbing up Webb Mountain.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
(Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
) and Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
(United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) formed by the dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
ming of the Kootenai River by the Libby Dam
Libby Dam
Libby Dam is a dam on the Kootenai River in the U.S. state of Montana.Dedicated on August 24, 1975, Libby Dam spans the Kootenai River upstream from the town of Libby, Montana. Libby Dam is tall and long. Lake Koocanusa is the name of the reservoir behind the dam; it extends upriver from...
in 1975.
The lake is formed north of the dam, reaching 48 miles (77.2 km) to the Canadian border and 42 miles (67.6 km) further into British Columbia. The lake holds 13% of the water in the Columbia River system. The town of Rexford
Rexford, Montana
Rexford is a town in Lincoln County, Montana, United States. The population was 151 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Rexford is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
was moved, as well as the Great Northern Railroad line. The town of Waldo,BC is now covered by the lake. What was once a barrier to river travel, Jennings Canyon is now inundated by the lake.
Lake Koocanusa was named in a contest won by Alice Beers of Rexford, Montana
Rexford, Montana
Rexford is a town in Lincoln County, Montana, United States. The population was 151 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Rexford is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
. The name is made from the first three letters of the Kootenay (alternately, Kootenai) River, Canada, and USA.
Lake Koocanusa was built as a joint project of the U.S. and Canada. It is 26 km (16 mi) from Libby, Montana
Libby, Montana
Libby is a city in and the county seat of Lincoln County, Montana, United States. The population was 2,626 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Libby is located at , along U.S. Route 2....
, also on the Kootenai River, from which the dam gets its name. The Libby Dam
Libby Dam
Libby Dam is a dam on the Kootenai River in the U.S. state of Montana.Dedicated on August 24, 1975, Libby Dam spans the Kootenai River upstream from the town of Libby, Montana. Libby Dam is tall and long. Lake Koocanusa is the name of the reservoir behind the dam; it extends upriver from...
has a Visitors Center and can be accessed by the Lake Koocanusa Scenic Byway
Lake Koocanusa Scenic Byway
The Lake Koocanusa Scenic Byway is a 67 mile Byway in Lincoln County, Montana, United States. It follows the Kootenai River and the border of Lake Koocanusa on Highway 37, and starts in Libby Montana and proceeds on to Eureka, Montana. Lake Koocanusa is formed behind the Libby Dam and has a...
which begins in the nearby town of Libby
Libby, Montana
Libby is a city in and the county seat of Lincoln County, Montana, United States. The population was 2,626 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Libby is located at , along U.S. Route 2....
, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
.
The Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail follows Highway 37 along the east side of the lake before crossing over the Lake Koocanusa Bridge and climbing up Webb Mountain.
References
file:///D:/Users/Marcus1/Documents/UPI/Clients/Luis/August%202011/Lake%20Koocanusa%20in%20August.JPGExternal links
- The Libby, Montana, web site with more information about Lake Koocanusa
- Libby Dam, United States Army Corps of EngineersUnited States Army Corps of EngineersThe United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...