Lake Koocanusa is expected to be at its highest water level all summer, forecasters say.

That's good news for campers and boaters who recreate on Koocanusa, which is actually a reservoir on the Kootenay River.

The water level in the reservoir is maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who control the Libby Dam downstream in Montana.

This year, the snowpack that will drain down into the Kootenay River basin is at 139 percent of average.

Anticipating the larger amount of snow melt, the Army Corps have ramped up water releases from the Libby Dam to prevent flooding downstream from the dam in Bonners Ferry, Idaho.

Right now, according to fish biologist Greg Hoffman, the elevation of the reservoir is at 2,346 feet. Its maximum allowable elevation is 2,459 feet.

After the releases this week, Hoffman said they are hoping Lake Koocanusa will get down to 2,334 feet before the snow melt arrives.

"People don't like that but with the volume that's going to be coming in, that's our protocol for flood control management," said Hoffman.

"We are being very cautious. With the amount of snow that's up here, we don't want to over fill and have to do a forced spill."

Once the snow melts, the reservoir will reach its full elevation of 2,459 feet between late June and mid July.

Then, it will stay at its peak throughout the summer, Hoffman said.

"We are anticipating having a very good summer on the reservoir once it does fill. It should stay full for quite some time."

In late summer, the Army Corps will again release water from the dam to bring down Lake Koocanusa's level to 2,449 feet by the end of September. It's a requirement of the U.S. Endangered Species Act to help salmon stocks downstream after the Kootenay joins the Columbia River.