It certainly was a long, bleak December and early January, especially if you ski at Bogus Basin. The drive into the South Fork canyon was less treacherous. In the past few days a wave of Pacific storms finally arrived and dumped snow across western and central Idaho. Here’s a chart showing snowpack so far this year compared to the three previous years:
So what does this mean for flows this summer?
The South Fork Boise River flows into Arrowrock Reservoir some 21 river miles downstream of the Danskin Bridge. Arrowrock also gets water from the Middle and North forks of the Boise River. These three branches form three major avenues of access for fish that wander from headwaters to mainstem rivers. And the rare bull trout is known to migrate great distances, sometimes hanging out in the South Fork Boise, only to drift back downstream to Arrowrock Reservoir and then travel up to a headwaters stream tributary to the North or Middle Fork Boise River.
Understanding the effects of Anderson Ranch Dam and Arrowrock operations on bull trout is an area of inquiry that the Bureau of Reclamation has pursued for many years. Original studies in the late 1990s and early 2000s helped establish an understanding when the bull trout move between the headwaters and Arrowrock reservoir.
In the fall of 2011 more field work was initiated and a weir was placed in the North Fork Boise River at Barber Flats and a similar structure on the Middle Fork Boise River. The Bureau has received assistance from Idaho Fish and Game and the Boise National Forest. The bull trout captured at the weirs are implanted with a radio tag and are tracked for two or three years to better understand living and migratory habits. (more…)
Chris Jones worked tirelessly through 2011 on the Pierce Creek reconnection project and spent many hours of volunteer time coordinating the construction planning and execution through the fall of the year. For his efforts we recognize him as the person of the year for 2011. Thank you Chris.
The South Fork Boise River below Anderson Ranch Reservoir is a regulated river. That means river flows are controlled as if with a spigot. Popular float boating flows in the summer are coupled with the steady, generous 300 cfs winter flows that benefit the wild trout fishery.
But a regulated river also affects the health of a river corridor and the riparian community. We have enjoyed fishing the river and it’s been pretty terrific that we may have been neglecting to notice the riparian conditions along the river.
Yes there have been some fencing and planting projects such as along Cow Creek and along the SFB on the north (river right) side downstream of the Cow Creek bridge.
After several posts about the Pierce Creek culvert removal project it’s appropriate to step back and have a look at the role of these tributaries in the South Fork Boise River fishery.
It would be uncommon — to say the least — that people who fish the SFB go there to fish one of the tributaries. Many anglers may not even know these small streams exist. Some may be attracted unwittingly to the confluence zone of these streams with the SFB to find rising fish, or good holding water provided by structure in the river channel.
Small streams play an important role in the health of a trout fishery.
First, they contain a significant amount of stream length and therefore habitat than may be at first realized. Even a trickle of water can still provide some holding water in small pools for fish, especially those young-of -year. Second, during certain times of the year, such as spring and early summer, the flows in these streams swell and more water can mean more habitat – space for fish to live.