South Fork Boise River

Category: News

  • Presentation on SF Boise Collaborative – Wednesday March 13

    Join the Ted Trueblood Chapter of Trout Unlimited for a presentation about the South Fork Boise River Watershed Collaborative

    Time:  6:30-7:00 Social / 7:00 Program

    Date:  March 13  

    Location: Smoky Mountain Pizza in Park Central 

    Andy Prisciandaro, the Trout Unlimited South Fork Boise River Watershed Collaborative Manager and Daniel Ritz, Communications and Outreach Coordinator for the Idaho Wildlife Federation will walk us through this exciting new group.  The collaborative was formed to identify, prioritize and implement of improvements to the South Fork Boise Watershed between Anderson Ranch Dam and Arrowrock Reservoir. This interdisciplinary, multi-agency group officially began in October of 2023 to conserve and enhance the watershed with benefits to our shared community, fishery and anglers. The Collaborative has begun brainstorming ideas and investigating the feasibility of projects ranging from simple changes to signage up to large side channel reconnection projects. Come learn about their scope of work, potential projects, as well as how you can provide input and stay engaged with their work! 

    Combined with Daniel’s storytelling ability and personal experience fishing the river we are sure this will be an exciting ad informative presentation!

    About the presenters: 

    Anthony Prisciandaro a former fish biologist and current Trout Unlimited South Fork Boise River Watershed Manager past experience with the South Fork Boise has includes everything from tracking fish by helicopter to collect data to create flow and water quality models.

    Daniel Ritz is Communications and Outreach Coordinator for the Idaho Wildlife Federation, Editor of Swing the Fly Magazine and ANGLERS Fly Shop. Photo: Daniel Ritz/IWF

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  • Next Full Group Meeting February 22 from 1-4PM at Reclamation’s Snake River Area Office. 230 Collins Rd, Boise ID 83702

    A more detailed agenda will come out as we get closer but the general topics are listed below.

    1. Brief committee updates
    2. Slideshow of December 20 site visit
    3. Beaver dam analog presentations and discussion. Location Selection Models, material/tool alternatives based on accessibility, example projects, potential influence on flow and temperature
    4. Green River Side Channel work. Model/report overview for Green River site selection, discussion with TU/USFWS Green River staff
    5. Wild and Scenic eligibility designation discussion- How does being listed as eligible for wild and scenic designation influence potential projects and how could potential projects influence any potential future design for Wild and Scenic designation? What are the pros/cons of official designation?

  • Watershed Collaborative Sub-Committee Meetings

    Sub-Committee meetings have been scheduled to cover the 6 categories developed by the group. Details can be found in the Watershed Collaborative Tab.

  • Draft Agenda South Fork Boise Watershed Collaborative Kickoff Meeting

    South Fork Boise Watershed Collaborative

    Kickoff Meeting Draft Agenda

    Thursday October 19 from 9:00am to 12:30pm

    Idaho Department of Fish Game – Headquarters (600 S Walnut St, Boise, ID  83712)

    Click here to join the meeting virtually if you are unable to attend in person

    Overview

    • 9:00- Introductions-All (Name, organization/role if applicable, relationship to the South Fork Boise Watershed)
    • 9:30- Overview of WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program (Anthony)
    • 9:45- Basic geography and facilities of the South Fork Boise Watershed (Anthony)

    Existing data, conditions and resources

    • 10:00- University of Idaho data, models and capabilities (Andy Tranmer)
    • 10:20- US Fish and Wildlife Service Threatened and endangered species in the watershed (Ciara Cusak)
    • 10:30-Break
    • 10:45- IDFG fish surveys: adult population estimates, fry sampling, tributary sampling (Tim D’Amico)
    • 11:15- Basic overview of Natural Resources Conservation Service resources and funding opportunities (Maureen Pepper)

    11:35-High level introduction to potential opportunities for improvement (Anthony)

    • Ideas brought up during interviews/discussions with partners
    • Additional ideas from the group

    12:00-Watershed Collaborative form and function

    • How other similar groups are set up
    • How this group wants to operate
    • Next steps

    12:30- Adjourn

  • South Fork Boise Watershed Collaborative Group Kickoff Meeting

    Trout Unlimited received a grant from the Bureau of Reclamation to initiate and manage a watershed group for the South Fork Boise River and tributaries between Anderson Ranch Dam and Arrowrock Reservoir. The South Fork Boise River is an extremely popular destination for outdoor recreation including fishing, ATV use, camping, hunting, rafting, hiking and birdwatching. It also supports a farming/ranching community and the town of Prairie. Like many other popular natural areas, there are multiple opportunities for improvement that could enhance the long-term health and sustainability of the watershed. The South Fork Boise Watershed Collaborative Group is being developed to identify, prioritize, and seek funding to implement opportunities for improvement in the watershed. As examples, some ideas for potential projects for the group to discuss include improving boat ramp and bathroom facilities along the river, addressing excessive erosion along some sections of road, planting riparian shrubs to help post fire recovery, and investigating the feasibility of increasing side channel connectivity at winter 300cfs flows. If you are interested in the watershed, your knowledge and experience could greatly benefit the process. Even if you haven’t yet visited the area but are interested, you are welcome. You are invited to join the group’s kickoff meeting from 9am-12:30pm on Thursday, October 19th at the Idaho Department of Fish and Game Headquarters office at 600 S Walnut St, Boise, ID 83712. Although we would love to see everyone in person for this first meeting, a link is provided below to join virtually through Microsoft Teams. Updates and a detailed agenda will be posted to www.southforkboise.org as we get closer to the meeting date. If you would like to provide input but are unable to attend this meeting or have questions, please reach out to [email protected].

    Virtual Option

    Join on your computer, mobile app or room device

    Click here to join the meeting

    Meeting ID: 288 164 851 119
    Passcode: n8AUPJ

    Download Teams | Join on the web