LPOIC

Here is the winning photo for the 2024 LPOIC Spring Derby entered by Gale Belgarde Jr. It shows Gracie Belgarde's 33 inch rainbow trout caught during the 2024 LPOIC Spring Derby.

UPDATE!! Joint Statement by Idaho Congressional Delegation - Lake Pend Oreille & Albeni Falls Dam
Inbox

Molly McCahon 6/7/24

Greetings All,
We are grateful to see this strong statement from our Congressional Delegation today (attached). Your voices have not gone unheard! Thank you to everyone who wrote, called and proactively elevated this issue to our local, state and federal officials. Obviously, we are still awaiting the action plan for resolving this issue quickly, and there is plenty more work to do, but this is a step in the right direction.

Below is today's update from the USACE on Lake Pend Oreille lake levels. At 2060' most launches, docks, and floating mooring systems become accessible...depending on boat size, physical capabilities, etc...

Current Conditions:

Lake Pend Oreille Elevation at Hope: 2059.57 feet

Albeni Falls Dam Outflow: 28,000 cubic feet per second (cfs)

Changes and Highlights:

Albeni Falls Dam outflow will increase from 28.0 kcfs to 32.0 kcfs at 11:00 PDT.
We are currently operating with spill gate restrictions. The currently planned operation is to reach 2,060.0 ft around 9 June. We anticipate being at summer pool around 23 June. Exact date is subject to adjustment depending on changing hydrologic conditions throughout the basin.
As mentioned during the public meeting on 30 May, the summer elevation band this summer will be 2061.75 - 2062.25 ft as measured at Hope, ID in order to not exceed historic high-water elevations at the dam, as measured at the forebay.
Even with very low snowpack being recorded in the basin, there still is significant uncertainty in the inflow forecasts both in terms of total volume and timing (how fast the snow melts). We are monitoring real-time weather, streamflow trends, and updating modeling predictions daily.

Press releases for Albeni Falls Dam can be found here:

Seattle District News Releases (army.mil)

Leon Basdekas, P.E.

Upper Columbia Senior Water Manager

USACE, Seattle District

Albeni Falls Dam

Also, USACE staff have provided the presentation slides from the Public Meeting on May 31st. https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getfile/collection/p16021coll11/id/6943

Send a message to learn more

5/24/2024

RE: Lake Pend Oreille Refill

Dear Lake Pend Oreille Stakeholders, Members of the Public, and Local Media,

We are writing to express our pressing and serious concerns regarding the refill of Lake Pend Oreille this spring, this summer, and in upcoming years. The economy of our waterfront community rises and falls with the level of the lake and impacts every business and person. While we enjoy both passive and active recreational opportunities all year round, the summer season is what we depend on and what sustains our economy through slow times.

While we certainly understand that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers needs to exercise a high degree of caution regarding the
spillway gate defect now being studied, our greater concern is the impact these lower-than-normal lake levels will have on the
communities that surround the lake. Our hope is to help foster interest from the public on this issue and send that feedback to the
Governor of Idaho, the Idaho Attorney General, and all elected officials tasked with representing the people of Idaho, the economy
of Idaho and holding the federal government accountable to the laws they promised to uphold when Albeni Falls Dam was built.

The Corps of Engineers, and specifically local staff at Albeni Falls Dam, have kindly held stakeholder meetings and are sending out
regular updates, however, the facts presented demonstrate this is a long-term situation and those facts don’t alleviate the impacts
we are experiencing now or the potential impacts to come, which include the inability to plan and predict from month to month and
year to year. As residents of this beautiful and remarkable place, we know from firsthand experience that maintaining high water
quality and quantity in our lakes, rivers and streams is paramount to the overall health of Bonner County and Idaho.

We would ask that you contact our governmental representatives including Governor Brad Little, Attorney General Raul Labrador,
Senator Mike Crapo, Senator James Risch, Congressman Mike Simpson and Congressman Russ Fulcher, and let them know your
specific concerns. See below for contact information for these and other key representatives.

NOTE: The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers is holding a public meeting Thurs May 30th at 6pm at the Ponderay Event Center. They
have recently provided a virtual option. Army Corps hosts Albeni Falls Dam public information meetings May 30-31 > Seattle District > Seattle District News Releases Please plan to attend if you can.

Respectfully,
Ford Elsaesser, Lakes Commission Chair

The Lakes Commission is an advisory board to the State of Idaho, charged with studying, investigating, and selecting ways and means of controlling the water quality and water quantity as they relate to waters of Lake Pend Oreille, Pend Oreille River, Priest Lake and Priest River for the communities’ interests and the interests of the State of Idaho and for the survival of the native species fish contiguous to the Pend Oreille/Priest River

Governmental Contacts
Governor Little
Email: https://gov.idaho.gov/contact/contact-us/
Telephone: 208-334-2100
Attorney General Raul Labrador
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 208-334-2400
U.S. Senator Mike Crapo
Email: https://www.crapo.senate.gov/contact/email-me
Telephone: 208-664-5493
U.S. Senator James Risch
Email: https://www.risch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email
Telephone: 208-667-6130
Congressman Russ Fulcher
Email: https://fulcher.house.gov/email-me
Telephone: (208) 667-0127
Congressman Mike Simpson
Email: https://simpson.house.gov/contact/
Telephone: 208-334-1953

Rep Sage Dixon
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 208-610-4800
Senator Scott Herndon
Email: [email protected]
[email protected]
Telephone: 208-610-2680
Rep Mark Sauter
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 208-332-1035

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UPDATE-----LPOIC 2024 Spring Derby -

These are the Final standings as of to May 8, 2024.

Congratulations to all the winners! Great fishing!
Thank you to everyone that participated in this derby, and we hope to have you join us again next year!

Don't forget to tune into the NEW LPOIC WEBSITE to stay informed of happenings in the club and on Lake Pend Oreille! lpoic.org

Adult Rainbow Division
1st Place - Josh Shelton - 22.65 lbs. 34 3/4 inches - Released
2nd Place - Kenny Breeden - 21.50 lbs. 34 inches - Released
3rd Place - Charlie Jett -19.15 lbs. 32 1/4 inches- Released
4th Place - Mike Fisher - 17.75 lbs. 35 inches - Released

Adult Mackinaw Division
1st Place - Paul Kinkead - 19.45 lbs. 37 inches
2nd Place - Tim Faiers - 16.55 lbs. 35 inches
3rd Place - Jim Carothers - 16.10 lbs. 34 inches
4th Place - Brad Sturgis - 16.0 lbs. 34 inches
5th Place - Ed Reeves - 15.20 lbs. 33 1/4 inches
6th Place - Adam Arthur - 11.10 lbs. 32 inches
7th Place - James Mullen - 10.00 lbs. 29 inches
8th Place - Joedy Friemel - 9.45 lbs. 28 inches
9th Place - Dan Taylor - 9.45 lbs. 29 1/4 inches
10th Place - Dan Kaestner - 9.25 lbs. 27 3/4 inches

Junior Division
1st Place - Fisher LaRue - 13.9 lbs. 31 inches - Rainbow Released
2nd Place - Marshall Dillon - 12.50 lbs. 30 inches - Rainbow Released
3rd Place - Carter Blackburn - 10.80 lbs. 28 inches - Rainbow Released
4th Place - Levi Cook - 9.80 lbs. 30 inches - Rainbow Released

Youth A Division
1st Place - Savannah Long - 33 inches Rainbow Released
2nd Place - Gracie Belgarde - 33 inches Rainbow Released
3rd Place - Donnie Houk Jr - 32 1/2 inches Rainbow Released

Youth B Division
1st Place - Colton Laybourne - 31 1/2 inches Rainbow Released
2nd Place - Dalton Belgarde - 30 3/4 inches Rainbow Released
3rd Place - Owen Belgarde - 29 1/2 inches Rainbow Released

"Mr. Nick" Prize - Ariana DaVault - 4.45 lbs. 24 inches - Mackinaw

Frisky Jenny Challenge Winner - Kenny Breeden - 21.50 lbs. Rainbow Released

Mack of the Day
4/27 - Brad Sturgis - 9.35 lbs.
4/28 - Jim Carothers - 16.10 lbs.
4/29 - Joedy Friemel - 9.45 lbs.
4/30 - James Mullen - 10.00 lbs.
5/1 - Dan Taylor - 9.45 lbs.
5/2 - Jim Carothers - 9.40 lbs.
5/3 - Brad Sturgis - 16 lbs.
5/4 - Paul Kinkead 19.45 lbs.
5/5 - Tim Faiers - 16.55 lbs.

German Brown Trout Prize
Daniel Kelly - 6.20 lbs. 25 inches

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2024 LPOIC 79th Annual Spring Derby starts tomorrow 4/27/24.
We thank all of you that participated in the 2024 52nd Annual Pin Auction Fundraiser. Whether you donated an awesome item or you were a bidder on the many awesome items and the LPOIC Pins we hope you had fun and will join us again next year! We feel this event was a success and we owe it all to you! A Huge Thank You to those that gathered all the items and worked on advertising, setting up and executing the auction!!

Now, it is time to get down to business and catch some awesome fish and have some relaxing time on the lake! This is what we have all been waiting for all winter and it is such a renewing time of the year.

The “Wish List” for this Spring Derby is now filled! We hope you will join the amazing people that have become sponsors for this fun derby and have a great time on the lake!

Adult Rainbow Catch and Release Sponsors - FILLED
1st Place – Rich Hutter
2nd Place – Tobler Marina
3rd Place – Valley Studio
4th Place – Ivory Dental

Mackinaw Division Sponsors FILLED
1st & 2nd Place - Avista
3rd, 4th & 5th Place – LPOIC
6th Place – Larry Eng
7th Place – Team Numbutts
8th Place - Captn's Table
9th Place - Arnold Simon
10th Place – Dan & Tammie Harder

Mackinaw of the Day Sponsors - FILLED
4/27 – Ralph Lotspeich & Julie Williams
4/28 – Pierce Auto Center
4/29 – Jeff & Cindy Bond
4/30 – Jeff & Cindy Bond
5/1 – All About Chimneys
5/2 – Brad & Becky
5/3 – Ed O’Hara
5/4 - Ken Oveson & Nick Wright
5/5 - Mirror Lake Camp Ground

German Brown Trout Sponsor – Grant Hillen - FILLED

Photo Contest Sponsors - Joedy, Andy and Deb Friemel - FILLED

Youth A&B Catch & Release Bonus Sponsors – Brad Shelton & All About Chimneys – FILLED

Thank you to these Sponsors for the support you have shown to the LPOIC

Tight Lines for all and have a super good time during the derby!

Send a message to learn more

Hello All!
LPOIC thanks all of you that participated in the 52nd ANNUAL Pin Auction. Whether you donated items for everyone to bid on or were actual bidders you are appreciated!
The auction is now over and those of you that won your bids have received emails letting you know that you won!
On the email please notice the GREEN CHECKOUT box. Click on that and continue through the prompts until you have finished paying for your winning items. You need only to do this on one of your emails. All of your winning bids will show up and you can take care of them all at once. We cannot mail your winnings out until you show up on the data base as paid.
If you have a problem feel free to contact us. 208-290-3248.
We are putting winning items together Wednesday to mail out Thursday. So be sure to have your account taken care of soon.
Thanks all for joining in on the fun. Hope you won all you wanted.
Now let's go fishing! 🎣

2024 LPOIC ANNUAL PIN AUCTION will end on April 21st at 8pm. There are just 36 hours left for you to get your 2024 LPOIC Derby Pin. Your pin purchase during the auction entitles your entry into a $250 pin bonus prize during our Spring, Members Only, and Thanksgiving derbies during 2024. The largest Rainbow or Mackinaw caught during any of the listed derbies will pay a $250 prize to a pin purchaser from this auction only. Go to LPOIC.org and follow the links. (You do not have to be a LPOIC member to purchase our pins. However during the Sept. Members Only Derby you will have to be a member to enter that event).

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EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT! NEW ENHANCED LPOIC WEBSITE ON LINE NOW!

SAME CLUB, SAME NAME BUT A TOTALLY NEW DESIGN!

Anyone that was a member last year should check out your emails for instructions for logging in.

For those of you that were not a member last year please go to lpoic.org and check us out. If you are interested in becoming a member simply go to Membership and follow the instructions.

Many new options for members to be able to engage with the club.

COME TAKE A LOOK! YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID!

www.lpoic.org