Lake Koocanusa (KUU-KAN-U-S-A) is a reservoir in British Columbia (Canada) and Montana (United States) formed by the damming of the Kootenai River by the Libby Dam in 1972. The Dam was formally dedicated by President Gerald Ford on August 24, 1975.[1]
The Koocanusa Bridge over Lake Koocanusa from the east bank.
The lake is formed north of the dam, reaching 48 miles (77 km) to the Canada–United States border and 42 miles (68 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 Railway line. The town of Waldo, British Columbia is now covered by the lake. What was once a barrier to river travel, Jennings Canyon is now inundated by the lake.[2] The Elk River joins the Kootenay River in the northern part of Lake Koocanusa, within Canadian territory.
Lake Koocanusa was named in a contest won by Alice Beers of Rexford, Montana.[1] The name is made from the first three letters of the Kootenay (alternately, Kootenai) River, Canada, and USA. Some confusion around the pronunciation of the lake exists[3] and in an effort to acknowledge truth and reconciliation, locals have been urging people to pronounce the USA portion of the name the same way that you would pronounce the abbreviation.[citation needed]
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. 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.
^ ab"Remarks at Dedication Ceremonies for the Libby Dam, Libby, Montana. | the American Presidency Project".
^"Libby Dam - the Dams | Balance of Power". Archived from the original on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2011-07-12.
LakeKoocanusa (KUU-KAN-U-S-A) is a reservoir in British Columbia (Canada) and Montana (United States) formed by the damming of the Kootenai River by the...
The LakeKoocanusa Scenic Byway is a 67-mile (108 km) scenic highway in Lincoln County, Montana, USA, following the Kootenai River and the eastern shore...
(129 m) in height and a length of 3,055 feet (931 m), Libby Dam created LakeKoocanusa, a reservoir which extends ninety miles (140 km) upriver with a maximum...
the Kootenay widens into the LakeKoocanusa reservoir. The Elk River, the Kootenay's longest tributary, enters LakeKoocanusa south of Elko, British Columbia...
Baynes Lake is an unincorporated rural community on the east shore of LakeKoocanusa, just north of the mouth of the Elk River, in the East Kootenay region...
fill much of its length today - LakeKoocanusa and Lake Kinbasket. A further British Columbia power initiative created Lake Williston. Rivers that follow...
are at least 115 named Islands in Montana. These islands occur in rivers, lakes and reservoirs. Archers Island, Chouteau County, Montana, 47°56′39″N 110°26′16″W...
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following is a list of the 100 largest lakes of the United States by normal surface area. The top twenty lakes in size are as listed by the National Atlas...
southern limit protrudes into the states of Idaho and Montana, abutting LakeKoocanusa, a reservoir on the Kootenai River. American geographic classifications...
pit coal mines' waste rock, which is upstream from the LakeKoocanusa water system. LakeKoocanusa is in both British Columbia, Canada and Montana, United...
Kitkiata Lake Kluskus Lakes Knewstubb Lake Knouff Lake (British Columbia) Kokanee LakeLakeKoocanusa Kootenay Lake Kostal Lake Kotcho Lake Lac La Hache...
necessity due to construction of Libby Dam and subsequent creation of LakeKoocanusa. Work began on May 12, 1966. Drilling was completed on June 21, 1968...
this optional dam on the Kootenay River, a tributary of the Columbia. LakeKoocanusa, Libby Dam's reservoir, extends some distance into Canada. Because this...
Kechika Valley on the south bank of the Liard River, to the middle LakeKoocanusa valley in northwestern Montana. The Canadian Rockies are defined by...
below the Libby Dam. In 1970, the construction of the Libby Dam formed LakeKoocanusa, flooding the towns of Rexford, Montana and Waldo, British Columbia...
(140 km)-long lake known as LakeKoocanusa (a play on Kootenai-Canada-United States of America), which extends into Canada. The shores of the lake are all forested...
Upper Kutenai band, they live near Grasmere on the east shore of the LakeKoocanusa below the mouth of Elk River, ca. 15 km north of the British Columbia-Montana...
reservoirs include Hungry Horse on the Flathead River; LakeKoocanusa on the Kootenai River; Lake Elwell on the Marias River; Clark Canyon on the Beaverhead...
reservoirs include Hungry Horse on the Flathead River; LakeKoocanusa on the Kootenai River; Lake Elwell on the Marias River; Clark Canyon on the Beaverhead...
Railway's Empire Builder in Eureka, Montana. It closed in 1970 when LakeKoocanusa was made, flooding The Kootenai River as well as Rexford, MT, where...
as the Pacific Northwest. In 1970, the construction and filling of LakeKoocanusa necessitated the realignment of 60 miles (97 km) of track between Stryker...
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