I am pleased to announce that the Ted Trueblood Chapter was recently awarded a $107,000 grant from the Southwest Idaho Resource Advisory Committee to restore fish passage between Pierce Creek and the South Fork Boise River. We will remove a culvert that has been a fish blocker. Our final push to make this project happen is the May 14 Fly Casting Tournament. See below for more information where you can participate and help.
President, Ted Trueblood Chapter
Pierce Creek maintains the characteristics of a cold water, freestone mountain stream with moderate gradient and ample riparian cover throughout its length. While the lower reach exhibits some nontrivial silt recruitment, the remaining sections maintain abundant spawning- sized gravels and cobbles in a relatively pristine condition. A 2008 USFS fisheries survey of S. Fork Boise River tributaries showed Pierce Creek among the highest of potential spawning streams within the South Fork drainage.
Idaho Fish and Game surveys of the stream in the 1970s indicate the tributary had a spawning run numbering in the hundreds of fish.
The Ted Trueblood chapter has a work plan in three stages. Our initial stage involves planning and consultation to design, engineer and receive permitting for the Pierce Creek culvert replacement. The second stage involves culvert removal and replacement with a bridge. The third stage entails utilizing Chapter volunteers for bank and road cut stabilization using new vegetation plantings and slope management techniques. Also expect to see education and public outreach efforts to engage and expand our membership.
We are well into the first stage with the permission from the Mountain Home Highway District and the Boise National Forest having completed the environmental assessment. The road is in the Boise National Forest but the Mountain Home Highway District holds an easement on the road.
The project will also be the catalyst to address some erosion issues in a dry wash next to the old Danskin boat ramp. A new basin will trap sediment and keep it out of the South Fork Boise.
