The Silver Creek Weir Removal Project on the Boise National Forest restores fish access to more than three miles of small streams in the Silver Creek drainage, a tributary to the Middle Fork Payette River watershed north of Garden Valley, Idaho.

The work project on September 28, 2002 kicked off the efforts in these numerous tributaries where weirs (dams) and research stations (structures constructed with flumes and other water measuring equipment) were dismantled. More than 30 volunteers from TU were involved in the project!

The project is a partnership of the Ted Trueblood Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Emmett Ranger District of the Boise National Forest, plus the Idaho Department of Fish and Game Community Challenge Grant Program and additional support from the Southwest Idaho Resource Advisory Committee.

In 2003 a spider excavator removed the sheet piling and other material too large and heavy for hand work. The removal demonstrated the use of heavy equipment in sensitive areas.

Silver Creek is a tributary to the Middle Fork of the Payette River. The area is a destination watershed for southwestern Idaho residents and contains a hot springs resort and numerous other recreation opportunities. The popularity of the watershed has resulted in riparian and stream habitat degradation.

Silver Creek was also the site for numerous research projects, in the 1950's through the 1980's, which examined responses in vegetation, soil and hydrologic function to road construction and timber management. The results of this research are now used in vegetation management activities throughout the northwest.

Most of the scientists who worked on these studeis are for the most part retired, and their work made a significant contribution to improved land stewardship. Yet the research facilities were left behind. The last step remained, the removal of the weirs and associated facilities. The Rocky Mountain Research Station consented to removal of the stations and offered consultation assistance during project implementation.

The research stations were established on seven tributaries to Silver Creek: (Control Creek, Cabin Creek, No Name Creek, Ditch Creek, Eggers Creek, Dee Creek, and Cee Creek) to monitor effects on streams by the various research activities. Each station contains a weir, flume, and small structure that housed the monitoring equipment. The structures now serve as large sediment traps and present a barrier to previously occupied fish habitat. Silver Creek provides habitat to Federally listed bull trout and the structures have prevented access upstream since their construction.

The Emmett Ranger District has contributed over $300,000 in restoration funds over the last four years for dispersed road and camping improvements, campsite developments, stream and bank restoration, riparian re-vegetation, trail developments, recreation fishing structures, education signs, restrooms, and horse facilities. Numerous groups have donated their time and energy to restoring the riparian and aquatic habitat conditions.

The Ted Trueblood Chapter of Trout Unlimited has assisted with several projects within Silver Creek over the years. They have contributed numerous volunteer hours in stream and riparian restoration throughout the Silver Creek watershed. The Chapter is enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute more time and energy to the aquatic restoration effort, while expanding habitat for a Federally listed species.

This project is culmination of several years of effort and thousands of hours of volunteer labor in the improvement of riparian and aquatic habitat conditions within Silver Creek.