September 2000
Trout Unlimited September Letter

Trout Unlimited -- Ted Trueblood Chapter -- P.O. Box 1971 -- Boise, Idaho 83701 -- September 2000

Groups Collaborate on Solutions:
Rx for South Fork Boise River

Concerns over the readily apparent impacts of recreation use of the South Fork Boise River have led many to begin taking action to improve the situation.

In June, Trout Unlimited wrote to Brooks Potter, board member of the Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation, expressing support for actions to improve current and future conditions on the river relative to increasing public use.

Meetings organized by the Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation have included representatives of Idaho Fish and Game, the Mountain Home Ranger District of the Boise National Forest, the Boise Valley Fly Fishermen, and Trout Unlimited.

Possible actions in the short term include improving and updating the signs along the river, a creel census, and a public use survey. Use surveys are over ten years old. And angler use as well a float boating has increased since that time.

One potential area for improvement is with the outhouses, which by design were located to be unobtrusive. Unfortunately, many people apparently don’t know where they are located.

Another potential area for action is with public education. Production of a brochure or pamphlet for distribution in sporting goods stores and agency displays is another possibility. Concern has also been expressed about illegal outfitting. The degree to which this may occur is unknown, but anecdotal information certainly exists. The South Fork Boise River is not open to licensed outfitters and guides.

The South Fork is southwest Idaho’s best wild trout fishery. This fine river is overdue for some protective attention given our area’s rapid population and outdoor recreational growth.

The Ted Trueblood Chapter of Trout Unlimited has lent its support to any efforts by the Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation to improve and protect the South Fork Boise River. We will provide information on developments in future newsletters.

BEAR VALLEY CUTTHROAT RADIO TAG STUDY UPDATE

Progress continues on the Bear Valley Creek Cutthroat Study, with a "cutthroat round-up" planned for September, and the launching of a website soon thereafter. This study is looking at the westslope cutthroat trout which inhabit Bear Valley Creek watershed, an important tributary to the Middle Fork Salmon River.

This spring the Ted Trueblood Chapter received a grant from the national Trout Unlimited Embrace-A-Stream (EAS) program, to help cover costs of a radio tag study of westslope cutthroat trout migratory behavior. The Lowman Ranger District of the Boise National Forest drafted the grant proposal and submitted it through the Chapter.

EAS funding would pay for radio tags to be inserted in adult "cutts." The fish would then be tracked from the air to determine where westslope cutthroats range in the upper Middle Fork Salmon River in central Idaho.

The 30 radio tags are now in hand, paid for in part by the EAS grant, by the Boise National Forest, and by donations to our chapter by several generous individuals and businesses (see page three). The next step in the project will be the capture and surgical implanting of the radio tags in the lucky cutthroat who unwittingly bite a Royal Wulff. The first "cutthroat round-up" will occur September 15 and 16 (Friday and Saturday).

Skilled fish surgeons will be on hand to implant the radio tags, using all modern surgical skills and technology. If anglers are unsuccessful in capturing enough fish on these two days, another trip will be made the last weekend of the month.

Those interested in participating on the 15th or the 16th, (or later in the month if needed), contact Jim Cook at 343-8548. Those interested in supporting the study by sponsoring a fish can respond using the form on page three.

Plans for a website are progressing. Discussions are ongoing with Garden Valley High School, where honors students may manage the website.

The radio tag study is part of a larger effort that includes conducting spawning surveys to determine timing, and location of major spawning areas, and conducting fish habitat and fish population surveys of westslope cutthroat trout distribution and relative abundance throughout Bear Valley Watershed.

Use of radio telemetry to track the annual movement of 30 adult westslope cutthroat trout will help determine the degree of "connectivity" between cutts in the Bear Valley Watershed and the Middle Fork Salmon River. Tracking fish will also add to the spawning and distribution information.

THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING WHO HAVE DONATED TO THE BEAR VALLEY WESTSLOPE
CUTTHROAT STUDY- Jim Classen, Trueblood Chapter member, Boise; Rik Moran, Trueblood Chapter member, Meridian; Dave Helfrich, Dave Helfrich River Outfitter, Inc., Vida, OR; Dave and Sheila Mills, Rocky Mountain River Tours, Boise; Jerry Hughes, Hughes River Expeditions, Cambridge, ID; Al Bukowsky, Solitude River Trips, Merlin, OR. Sponsers get to name their fish! You can be a sponser too. It's not too late. See form below. I am interested in helping with cutthroat research. My contribution will fund radio tags. Enclosed is a contribution. (Make checks to Ted Trueblood Chapter).
NAME: _________________________________________________________
ADDRESS: _______________________________________________________
EMAIL: ___________________
NAME OF FISH ($175 Contribution):_______________
Mail this form and check to Ted Trueblood Chapter, Box 1971, Boise, 83701

Chapter Comments on Roadless Areas

The Ted Trueblood Chapter in July provided comments on the Forest Service proposal to end road construction in roadless areas in our National Forests (while allowing timber harvest without new roads).

The letter from Chapter President Richard Jones said protection of roadless areas is necessary because elected officials have failed to enacted long-standing wilderness recommendations into law, and because current National Forest land use plans are out of date.

The Chapter’s comments also pointed out that native fish species like bull trout will benefit more than other fish species from protecting remaining roadless areas. We also noted protection of some roadless areas will add little to no benefits for native trout species. Many native fishes are more affected by the condition of the already-roaded portions of National Forests and by other lands.

One cannot separate impacts of some land owners or land status. Roadless areas are one of many factors affecting habitat for viable native fish populations. A holistic watershed approach is needed. Therefore, the Final EIS should be more realistic in its claims of benefits for aquatic species and habitats.

Finally, the Trueblood Chapter comments call for the Final EIS to include an analysis of cumulative effects of the roadless proposal in combination with the proposals to address the federal dams which are so destructive to Idaho salmon and steelhead. Other decisions, like what to do about the killer dams in the lower Snake River, will have a larger impact on salmon then the decisions possible in the roadless EIS.

Fires Cause Cancellation of Squaw Creek Project

The Ted Trueblood Chapter's stream project at Squaw Creek, north of Emmett was going to happen the weekend of July 29-30. But forest fires led to cancellation. There were not fires in the immediate area, but staff from the Emmett Ranger District were called up to assist with fires in the west central mountains of Idaho. At this time there is no date for the rescheduling of this project.


Ted Trueblood Chapter News Published 9 or 10 times a year, Vol. 10; Number 7.
Editor: Andy Brunelle Comments and articles may be emailed to tutedtrue@aol.com
Ted Trueblood Chapter Idaho Trout Umlimited