The South Fork Boise River flows into Arrowrock Reservoir some 21 river miles downstream of the Danskin Bridge.  Arrowrock also gets water from the Middle and North forks of the Boise River.  These three branches form three major avenues of access for fish that wander from headwaters to mainstem rivers.  And the rare bull trout is known to migrate great distances, sometimes hanging out in the South Fork Boise, only to drift back downstream to Arrowrock Reservoir and then travel up to a headwaters stream tributary to the North or Middle Fork Boise River.

Understanding the effects of Anderson Ranch Dam and Arrowrock operations on bull trout is an area of inquiry that the Bureau of Reclamation has pursued for many years.  Original studies in the late 1990s and early 2000s helped establish an understanding when the bull trout move between the headwaters and Arrowrock reservoir.

In  the fall of 2011 more field work was initiated and a weir was placed in the North Fork Boise River at Barber Flats and a similar structure on the Middle Fork Boise River.  The Bureau has received assistance from Idaho Fish and Game and the Boise National Forest.  The bull trout captured at the weirs are implanted with a radio tag and are tracked for two or three years to better understand living and migratory habits. Continue Reading…

The South Fork Boise River below Anderson Ranch Reservoir is a regulated river.  That means river flows are controlled as if with a spigot.  Popular float boating flows in the summer are coupled with the steady, generous 300 cfs winter flows that benefit the wild trout fishery.

But a regulated river also affects the health of a river corridor and the riparian community.  We have enjoyed fishing the river and it’s been pretty terrific that we may have been neglecting to notice the riparian conditions along the river.

Yes there have been some fencing and planting projects such as along Cow Creek and along the SFB on the north (river right) side downstream of the Cow Creek bridge.

Continue Reading…