Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Acipenseriformes
Family: Acipenseridae

Listing Status:   

General Information

The Kootenai River white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) is 1 of 18 land-locked populations of white sturgeon known to occur in western North America. Kootenai sturgeon occur in Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia, Canada, and are restricted to approximately 167.7 River Mile (RM) of the Kootenai River extending from Kootenai Falls, Montana, located 31 RM below Libby Dam, Montana, downstream through Kootenay Lake to Corra Linn Dam at the outflow from Kootenay Lake in British Columbia. Approximately 45 percent of the species’ range is located within British Columbia. Many Kootenai sturgeon migrate within this restricted portion of the Kootenai River system to spawn in the Kootenai River, and they spend part of their life in Kootenay Lake in British Columbia. The Kootenai River originates in Kootenay National Park in British Columbia, flows south into Montana, northwest into Idaho, then north through the Kootenai Valley back into British Columbia, where it flows through Kootenay Lake and joins the Columbia River at Castlegar, British Columbia. The wild population now consists of an aging cohort of large, old fish. The population has declined from approximately 7,000 white sturgeon in the late 1970s to 760 fish in 2000. At the current mortality rate of 9 percent per year, fewer than 500 adults remained in 2005 and there may be fewer than 50 remaining by 2030. Current data indicate that population abundance declines by about half every 7.4 years. During the last 14 years of intensive monitoring (using techniques proven suitable elsewhere) only one hatching embryo has been found and no free-swimming larvae or young-of-the-year have been captured. Estimates show that annually an average of 10 juvenile sturgeon are naturally reproduced in the Kootenai River. This suggests high levels of mortality which are unlikely to sustain the historic population of Kootenai sturgeon.

Map of Species occurrence

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Map Image Map of Species occurrence Map of Species occurrence

This map represents our best available information about where a species is currently known to or or is believed to occur; however, it should NOT be used as an official species list for Section 7 Consultation purposes. To obtain an official species list for this purpose, please visit the Information, Planning, and Conservation (IPaC) System (click here: http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac)



  • States/US Territories in which the White sturgeon, U.S.A. (ID, MT), Canada (B.C.), Kootenai R. system is known to or is believed to occur:  Idaho , Montana
  • US Counties in which the White sturgeon, U.S.A. (ID, MT), Canada (B.C.), Kootenai R. system is known to or is believed to occur:  View All
  • USFWS Refuges in which the White sturgeon, U.S.A. (ID, MT), Canada (B.C.), Kootenai R. system is known to occur:  KOOTENAI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
  • Countries in which the the White sturgeon, U.S.A. (ID, MT), Canada (B.C.), Kootenai R. system is known to occur:  Canada
Current Listing Status Summary
Status Date Listed Lead Region Where Listed
09/06/1994 Pacific Region (Region 1) U.S.A. (ID, MT), Canada (B.C.), (Kootenai R. system)

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 9: view all)
Date Citation Page Title
04/08/2010 75 FR 17947 17950 5-Year Status Reviews of 69 Species in Idaho, Washington, Hawaii, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
07/09/2008 73 FR 39506 39523 Critical Habitat Revised Designation for the Kootenai River Population of the White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus): Final rule.
02/08/2006 71 FR 6383 6396 Critical Habitat Designation for the Kootenai River Population of the White Sturgeon: Interim rule.
09/06/2001 66 FR 46548 46561 Final Designation of Critical Habitat for the Kootenai River Population of the White Sturgeon
04/26/2001 66 FR 20962 20964 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Reopening of Public Comment Period and Notice of Availability of Draft Economic Analysis for Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for the Kootenai River Population of White Sturgeon

» Action Plans

Action Plans (Showing 1 of 1)
Date Title
05/17/2010 Kootenai River White Sturgeon Spotlight Species Action Plan

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
09/30/1999 Recovery Plan for the Kootenai River Population of the White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) View Implementation Progress Final
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 2 of 2)
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
04/08/2010 75 FR 17947 17950 5-Year Status Reviews of 69 Species in Idaho, Washington, Hawaii, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
  • Notice 5-year Review, Initiation
    • 04/26/2001 66 FR 20962 20964 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Reopening of Public Comment Period and Notice of Availability of Draft Economic Analysis for Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for the Kootenai River Population of White Sturgeon
  • Notice Doc. Availability
  • Notice Reopen Comment
    • Five Year Review
    Date Title
    08/09/2011 Kootenai River Distinct Population Segement of the White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation

    » Critical Habitat

    Current Critical Habitat Documents (Showing 4 of 4)
    Date Citation Page Title Document Type Status
    07/09/2008 73 FR 39506 39523 Critical Habitat Revised Designation for the Kootenai River Population of the White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus): Final rule. Final Rule Final designated
    02/08/2006 71 FR 6383 6396 Critical Habitat Designation for the Kootenai River Population of the White Sturgeon: Interim rule. Final Rule Not Required
    09/06/2001 66 FR 46548 46561 Final Designation of Critical Habitat for the Kootenai River Population of the White Sturgeon Final Rule Not Required
    12/21/2000 65 FR 80698 80708 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for the Kootenai River Population of the White Sturgeon Proposed Rule Not Required

    To learn more about critical habitat please see http://criticalhabitat.fws.gov

    » Conservation Plans

    No conservation plans have been created for White sturgeon, U.S.A. (ID, MT), Canada (B.C.), Kootenai R. system

    » Petitions

    Most Recent Petition Findings (Showing 1 of 1)
    Date Citation Page Title Finding
    04/14/1993 58 FR 19401 19402 ETWP; 90-Day Finding for a Petition to List the Kootenai River Population of the White Sturgeon
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Substantial

    • » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: June 19, 2013