Our work is a collaborative effort with the US Forest Service, US Bureau of Reclamation, Idaho Fish and Game, Boise State University (BSU), volunteers from the Ted Trueblood Trout Unlimited chapter, Boise Valley Fly Fishermen, and TU national staff.  Neighboring Trout Unlimited chapters (Magic Valley Fly Fishermen, Hemingway) are also interested in participating.   

Idaho Department of Fish and Game hosted a meeting on November 15, 2007 that involved the Boise National Forest, Bureau of Reclamation, Ted Trueblood TU Chapter and the Boise Valley Fly Fishermen.  TU and BVFF requested the meeting with the agencies to discuss potential habitat improvement projects such as spawning gravel augmentation.  Following an afternoon of presentations and discussion with the agency professionals, the group reached consensus there would be little value in immediately pursuing habitat improvement projects prior to understanding potential source populations for the target fishery in the South Fork Boise River (SFB).  A number of research and investigation projects were defined for 2008 to gain a better understanding of the SFB ecosystem.
 

Our specific conservation objectives are:

• Identify the demographic mechanisms leading to the observed age-class distribution of trout in the South Fork Boise River

• Determine the component of the population most likely being impacted negatively, and to better identify causalities of observed redband trout decline

• Identify management and restoration activities to ameliorate this decline, i.e., whether to prioritize:

  (1) restoring habitat within the focal stretch of river that is important for the growth of these larger fish and facilitating passage for migratory fish;

  (2) improving spawning and rearing habitat for younger age classes in and adjacent to the focal reach of river;

  and/or

  (3) improving rearing habitat for younger age classes in the headwater habitats.

For more information - contact us via our general distribution email at southforkboise@cableone.net or you may contact Mike Toalson (TU) at 208-899-8612 or Dick Frencer (BVFF) at 208-362-1857 about volunteer and sponsorship opportunities.

Participating Organizations: