February 2001
Trout Unlimited February Letter

FEBRUARY 14 MEETING PROGRAM
By Rick Prange
For our February program, new member and Boise transplant Kevin Sublett, will provide a presentation on fishing Lee’s Ferry on the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam (Lake Powell). This is another example of a western blue ribbon tailwater fishery that developed after a dam was constructed on a river that previous had no trout. These high dams, with their year round cold water releases and flow controls, can provide ideal conditions for trout. Kevin has fished this river extensively and prefers the early spring and late fall periods. Beautiful scenery, pleasant temperatures and great fishing can be expected. Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks are close by. Kevin will cover access, fishing techniques, and patterns. This could be a new fishing destination for many of us. Be at the meeting to hear more about it from Kevin.

The club meeting is at the GARDEN CITY City Hall Auditorium. The address is 201 E. 50th Street, just off of Chinden Boulevard (between Chinden and the Boise River). 50th Street is between Veterans Parkway and Glenwood Avenue, and a little closer to Glenwood. It is best to park at the back of the building and go in the back door. The times are the same: 6:30 p.m. for fly tying and 7:30 p.m. for the program. These monthly meetings are a joint meeting for the Ted Trueblood Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Boise Valley Fly Fishers.

Is this like selling state secrets?
The Dilemma of Publicity of a Resource

No doubt many a member of Trout Unlimited reacted to the latest issue of TROUT magazine with it's feature story on the South Fork Boise River. See "The South Fork Boise River: Boise Idaho's Backyard Stream" in the Winter 2001 issue of TROUT.

First there may be the feeling of pride for this blue ribbon fishery, far and away the best in southwest Idaho. Then there is also the concern about too much publicity about this river. The more people know about this River, the more fishing pressure, and so on.

Is this dilemma a case of our being selfish about our favorite fishing spot? Or is it a concern for the health of the fishery and the river? Long-time users have witnessed a great increase in the number of people using the river for fishing, floating, and camping.

Based on the emails and phone calls to Trueblood Chapter officers, the reaction to the news article was not positive, for sure. For the record, members should be informed that no one in the Chapter leadership was contacted by the writer of the article or the editorial staff of TROUT prior to the article being published. Apparently no policy exists that local chapters should be contacted when these feature articles are going to be published. Perhaps there should be a policy of early notification so that local TU chapters can discuss conservation issues.

This article would have been an excellent opportunity to present some of the conservation challenges facing the South Fork Boise. Even the best streams face short and long-term risks. And these risks go beyond fishing pressure. Sadly, the opportunity was missed. In exchange we get a travelogue more fitting for a periodical one finds in the seat back pocket in the airline seat in front of you.

Fortunately, locals are beginning to rise to the challenge and address impacts on the river. Led by the Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation, several groups will be contributing to the construction of new restroom facilities in a couple of hot spots along the river. You will likely see some activity later this year. What is probably also needed is some education among the many users to be considerate of the resource and one another. For the long term we need to remember that whirling disease is present in the South Fork Boise. Although there is no evidence that it has affected the fish population in the river, we must be protective of the resource because whirling disease is known to become more of a problem for fish when other impacts accumulate.

Long gone are the days when one was able to easily brush off the eager visiting angler with tales of rattlesnakes along the South Fork Boise. Now its a place that's been discovered. As Vice President Chaney (a fly fisher) would say, "Big time."

Hells Canyon Dam Complex Relicensing In Full Swing
Idaho Power Inc. is in the process of relicensing the Hells Canyon Complex on the Snake River with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The Hells Canyon Complex includes three dams, Brownlee, Oxbow and Hells Canyon, which generate up to 1,066 megawatts of electricity, or two-thirds of Idaho Power's hydro-power capacity. Idaho Power must file an application with FERC to renew its license for another 35-50 year period. The current license to operate the dam complex expires in 2005.

FERC is charged with requiring Idaho Power to balance energy production with other factors including fish and wildlife resources, habitat, recreation, and biodiversity. The Hells Canyon Complex, which lacks fish passage facilities, blocked anadromous fish access to portions of the Snake, Boise, Payette, Weiser, Owyhee and Bruneau River systems. Among other problems, the dams have degraded the water quality in the Snake. Reservoir levels affect flows which help push juvenile salmon and steelhead through the reservoirs of the four lower Snake River federal dams. The relicensing process requires Idaho Power to consult with "stakeholders" before its relicensing application is filed. Key stakeholders in this relicensing will include; 1) the BLM which manages 115 miles of the 193 miles of land affected by the dams, 2) the Forest Service which manages the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, 3) National Marine Fisheries Service which administers the Endangered Species Act and salmon recovery, 4) Fish and Wildlife Service which administers the ESA for native fish and wildlife and plants, 5) EPA which is charged with protecting the Snake's water quality, 6) Indian tribes affected by the relicensing, 7) Idaho, Oregon and Washington Fish and Game agencies, 8) state water resources agencies, 9) representatives from local communiteies such as Baker County Oregon, 10) reservoir recreationists, 11) industry groups and 12) conservation groups such as Idaho Trout Unlimited.

Stakeholders have a right to participate throughout the relicensing process by submitting comments, attending meetings and providing input to affect the terms of the relicensing. This is a chance of a lifetime for the Ted Trueblood Chapter, working with the Trout Unlimited national organization, to help preserve and restore coldwater fisheries in the Snake River basin. Just as our North Idaho chapter profoundly influenced the relicensing of dams on the Clark Fork to the advantage of native trout, sturgeon and other fish, we can now work to help trout and salmon on the Snake River system. That river system, although battered and degraded, contains some of the largest native trout and salmon populations left in the United States.

The board of the Ted Trueblood chapter would appreciate any feedback on this issue.

10th CONSERVATION BANQUET
Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 14, 2001 for the 10th Annual Conservation Banquet for the Ted Trueblood Chapter. The banquet committee is getting their act together and you should expect your special, personalized photocopy banquet invitation in the mail soon.

We are hoping at a healthy percentage of members attend the banquet. Various forms of cajoeling and begging will be employed to increase the turnout of people. Some nice auction items and raffle prizes will be there.

A NEW TU LOGO?
During the past 18 months, the national office of TU has consulted with members and volunteer leaders on the history and look of TU's current logo and the question of what lies at the heart of Trout Unlimited's conservation mission in the 21st century.

For the past couple of weeks the web site www.tu.org allowed people to see three proposed new logos, as well as the old logo. People had until February 1, 2001 to vote. Results will be announced March 1. We will let you know the results in the next newsletter.

Boise Valley Woolly Buggers
The Boise Valley Woolly Buggers is the largest youth fly fishing club in America. This group was started in the early 1990s by Boise's Clayne Baker, a famous fly tier and fisherman.

Clayne's vision is to get kids into fly fishing early in life so they have a hobby they can take with them for many decades. Clayne also teaches there is more to fishing than catching fish. And the monthly meetings of the Woolly Buggers are solid evidence of this motto.

The Ted Trueblood Chapter has a relationship with the Woolly Buggers (as do others like the Boise Valley Fly Fishermen), including the Ted Trueblood Video Library, stocked with some great fly fishing videos. Most recently the Trueblood Board used Chapter funds to make every Woolly Bugger a student member of TU.

The goal of making Woolly Buggers a member of TU at this phase of their lives is to instill fish conservation ideals in the next generation and to diversify the membership of our Chapter to include many families who have children who fish. We hope this move pays dividends both to the Chapter and to the resource.

A Sleeping Giant
The new roster report from the national office shows another month with more members in the Ted Trueblood Chapter. The latest count shows 475 current members (plus another 100 who are late on renewing their annual dues). This represents an increase of nearly 90 people in the past eleven months.

New members this month include Blake Adams, Gary Blakely, James Bowden, Tony Cameron, Matthew Campbell, Parker Corts, Ray Crowder, Ben Decre, Charles Ellis, Steven Fuller, Alan Hannaford, Bruce Hedemark, Bob Huizinga, David Kuck, Tom Moxham, James Piotrowski, Eric Price, Don Ricci, Frank Ryther, Chris Wisvary, and Lonnie Young.

Ted Trueblood Chapter News Published 10 times a year. Editor: Andy Brunelle Comments and articles may be emailed to tutedtrue@aol.com
Ted Trueblood Chapter Idaho Trout Umlimited