Ted Trueblood Chapter November Letter
Bear Valley Brochure. Hot off the press is a new brochure developed by the
Ted Trueblood Chapter and the Idaho Chapter of the American Fisheries Society
which documents the restoration of Bear Valley Creek in recent years.
Actions were implemented in the early 1990s to improve stream habitat and
riparian conditions because spring and summer chinook salmon were listed as
threatened under the Endangered Species Act. While permittees managed
livestock according to a new plan, the Boise Forest worked with Trout
Unlimited and other volunteer organizations to enhance degraded habitats
through hands on restoration work.
A positive results from management changes that began in 1992 are beginning to
show. Stream bank collapse has almost totally disappeared. Fine sediment in
the channel is being flushed. We salute the efforts of livestock permittees,
the Boise National Forest, Idaho Fish and Game, the Boise Valley Fly
Fishermen, and the Boy Scouts for a shared commitment to restoring Bear Valley
Creek. Copies of the pamphlet are available. Contact Andy Brunelle at
343-1510 or Email at tutedtrue@aol.com.
Trout in the Classroom: This school year something special will be happening
in Riverside Elementary Classroom 4B, in Southeast Boise. The 4th grade class
is the lucky recipient of a 75-gallon "Living Stream" aquarium, compliments
of the Ted Trueblood Chapter. This is one of four such systems placed in
selected classrooms in the Idaho communities of Sandpoint, McCall, Idaho Falls
and Boise. The cost of these aquarium systems (about $3,500 each) were shared
between the Trout Unlimited (TU) chapters in Idaho, Idaho Department of Fish
and Game, and the U.S. Forest Service.
Teacher Carrie Prange will use the living stream system as part of the
curriculum for the 4th Grade class. Riverside Elementary is uniquely situated
for this venture because it is located near Loggers Creek and the Boise River.
As the kids raise the fish, observe their life stages and growth progress in
the classroom aquarium, we hope a connection is built to the stream side
outdoor classroom. Carrie hopes to build an understanding among the kids of
what natural components are important if we are to have creatures such as
trout survive in the wild. The students will learn some basic fish biology
and what environmental features are necessary for trout to live. Carrie hopes
they can eventually release young trout to live in the Boise River.
This truly will be a great experiment for all of us -- both the class,
Riverside Elementary, and the Ted Trueblood Chapter. The aquarium will be up
and running soon. But the class will need help in moving forward with this
special educational opportunity. Members of the Ted Trueblood Chapter are
encouraged to volunteer some time to ensure the living stream system
functions, and that we properly maintain the equipment so that the learning
process can take place. In addition, the help of professional fishery
biologists has been solicited to give students guidance and occasional
classroom and field trip instruction. Those who are interested in helping out
on this project, please contact Rick Prange at 336-9167.
Future Project: The Boise National Forest has been awarded a grant from the
Washington office of the Forest Service for their proposal entitled "Saving
Silver Creek:
Riparian Restoration at Silver Creek Plunge Campgrounds." The Boise NF will
receive $45,000 from Chief Mike Dombeck's Natural Resource Agenda Grant
account. Of the more than 900 proposals for funding, this grant received the
7th highest amount of funds of any project in the nation.
The proposal includes native plant restoration, streambank erosion control,
construction of gravel trails, interpretive signs, and construction of
barrier-free fishing access points. Several partner groups are involved --
including Boise Valley Fly Fishermen, Gem Valley Fly Fishers, TU, a local
resident and PAW (Physically Challenged Access to the Woods).
Harris Ranch: Chapter members toured the Harris Ranch property on Saturday,
October 17, to explore possibilities for stream channel restoration. Based on
our site assessment and discussions with a number of parties, the Ted
Trueblood Board gave approval to proposing a partnership with Harris Ranch to
implement stream channel restoration for trout spawning and rearing habitat.
Stay tuned for more information in future letters.
Annual Christmas Dinner. The Ted Trueblood Chapter will hold its annual
Christmas dinner on Thursday, December 10, at the Basque Museum and Cultural
Center. Please mark your calenders for this annual event. More information
will be sent your way later in November.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS. December 8 meeting - AUCTION, AUCTION, AUCTION!!!! Find
that fly fishing equipment that has been collecting dust, has lost favor, or
some rods you've got to sell to raise cash so you can go to Alaska next
summer. It's been about two years since our last auction. It could be bigger
this time with both Boise Valley Fly Fishermen and Trout Unlimited members
participating. Items in the auction can be fly fishing gear or related
equipment (camping items, float boating, etc.). Bring your stuff in early
before 7:30 p.m. so we can get it tagged and registered. You can set a
minimum bid and 10 percent of the sale price goes to the BVFF coffers (which
are pretty lean these days). Even if you don't have any items to auction,
bring your check book and be ready to buy. Ken McGee will be our auctioneer -
it's worth coming just to see his antics.
January 12 meeting - A program by Dr. Bob Friedli on wintertime fly fishing.
February 9 meeting - Bob Glenn and Martin Landholm does a program on their
last summer's fishing trip to Mongolia to catch the world's largest trout.