Crash & recovery: dams caused oligotrophication; by 1991 adult kokanee fell below
~0.25 million (from typically >1 million) .
Restoration: since 1992, nutrient additions lifted productivity 50–100% and kokanee
biomass to ~3× pre-program levels .
Recent status (2019): ~63,300 spawners (Meadow Creek + Lardeau), highest since 2015 but
still far below historic; ~22M eggs (~20% of long-term avg); age 1→2 survival improving — cautious recovery .
Active recovery measures: main-lake kokanee angling closure (2015–19), eyed-egg/fry supplementation, and the predator Angling Incentive Program (since spring 2020) .
Recovery update (2023): 71,423 spawners returned to Meadow Creek alone in fall 2023 — the highest decade return there — depositing ~22.4 million eggs; spring 2023 fry outmigration totaled 5.53 million. Spawners still test positive for Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis (IHN) virus most years .
Role: primary forage sustaining the trophy predator fishery.
Open questions
Current kokanee fishery status / retention regs on Kootenay Lake.
Regulations (Region 4, 2025–2027)
Regional daily 15 (none from streams, ≤5 over 30 cm). BUT Kootenay Lake Main Body = 0 (protected); West Arms heavily restricted (seasonal/weekend only).
