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Join the Ted Trueblood Chapter of Trout Unlimited for a presentation about the South Fork Boise River Watershed Collaborative

Time:  6:30-7:00 Social / 7:00 Program

Date:  March 13  

Location: Smoky Mountain Pizza in Park Central 

Andy Prisciandaro, the Trout Unlimited South Fork Boise River Watershed Collaborative Manager and Daniel Ritz, Communications and Outreach Coordinator for the Idaho Wildlife Federation will walk us through this exciting new group.  The collaborative was formed to identify, prioritize and implement of improvements to the South Fork Boise Watershed between Anderson Ranch Dam and Arrowrock Reservoir. This interdisciplinary, multi-agency group officially began in October of 2023 to conserve and enhance the watershed with benefits to our shared community, fishery and anglers. The Collaborative has begun brainstorming ideas and investigating the feasibility of projects ranging from simple changes to signage up to large side channel reconnection projects. Come learn about their scope of work, potential projects, as well as how you can provide input and stay engaged with their work! 

Combined with Daniel’s storytelling ability and personal experience fishing the river we are sure this will be an exciting ad informative presentation!

About the presenters: 

Anthony Prisciandaro a former fish biologist and current Trout Unlimited South Fork Boise River Watershed Manager past experience with the South Fork Boise has includes everything from tracking fish by helicopter to collect data to create flow and water quality models.

Daniel Ritz is Communications and Outreach Coordinator for the Idaho Wildlife Federation, Editor of Swing the Fly Magazine and ANGLERS Fly Shop. Photo: Daniel Ritz/IWF

A more detailed agenda will come out as we get closer but the general topics are listed below.

1. Brief committee updates
2. Slideshow of December 20 site visit
3. Beaver dam analog presentations and discussion. Location Selection Models, material/tool alternatives based on accessibility, example projects, potential influence on flow and temperature
4. Green River Side Channel work. Model/report overview for Green River site selection, discussion with TU/USFWS Green River staff
5. Wild and Scenic eligibility designation discussion- How does being listed as eligible for wild and scenic designation influence potential projects and how could potential projects influence any potential future design for Wild and Scenic designation? What are the pros/cons of official designation?

Sub-Committee meetings have been scheduled to cover the 6 categories developed by the group. Details can be found in the Watershed Collaborative Tab.

South Fork Boise Watershed Collaborative

Kickoff Meeting Draft Agenda

Thursday October 19 from 9:00am to 12:30pm

Idaho Department of Fish Game – Headquarters (600 S Walnut St, Boise, ID  83712)

Click here to join the meeting virtually if you are unable to attend in person

Overview

• 9:00- Introductions-All (Name, organization/role if applicable, relationship to the South Fork Boise Watershed)
• 9:30- Overview of WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program (Anthony)
• 9:45- Basic geography and facilities of the South Fork Boise Watershed (Anthony)

Existing data, conditions and resources

• 10:00- University of Idaho data, models and capabilities (Andy Tranmer)
• 10:20- US Fish and Wildlife Service Threatened and endangered species in the watershed (Ciara Cusak)
• 10:30-Break
• 10:45- IDFG fish surveys: adult population estimates, fry sampling, tributary sampling (Tim D’Amico)
• 11:15- Basic overview of Natural Resources Conservation Service resources and funding opportunities (Maureen Pepper)

11:35-High level introduction to potential opportunities for improvement (Anthony)

• Ideas brought up during interviews/discussions with partners
• Additional ideas from the group

12:00-Watershed Collaborative form and function

• How other similar groups are set up
• How this group wants to operate
• Next steps

12:30- Adjourn