Sent To: Montana DEQ
Subject: Selenium water column standard for the Kootenai River; Lincoln County
commission request for modification to current standard
Synopsis: Lincoln County (Montana) Board of Commissioners petitioned Montana DEQ to change the water quality standards for the Kootenai River in a manner that would relax the standards selenium pollution. Because selenium already exists in the Kootenai River at levels that meet or exceed the threshold for causing harm to aquatic organisms (to include negative impacts on trout and other fish species reproduction), PCTU provided comments to MT DEQ recommending they not adopt the modified standard proposed by the Lincoln County commissioners. PCTU noted the collaborative efforts between local, state, and provincial governments to restore and recover fish populations in the Kootenai River, and the economic benefits already provided by the restored trout fishery, among other reasons, in recommending not weakening protections.
