FISHERY RESTORATION OF THE GOLD FORK RIVER, IDAHO

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FISHERY RESTORATION OF THE GOLD FORK RIVER, IDAHO
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Dale Allen Idaho Department of Fish and
Game Idaho Office of Species Conservation
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Proposal Development

• Gold Fork Watershed Analysis-Boise Cascade Corp.
• Cascade Reservoir Management Plan, TMDL - IDEQ
• Gold Fork and Squaw Creek Key Watersheds Bull
  Trout Problem Assessment-SWNFWAG

• State of Idaho Bull Trout Plan
• Fisheries Management Plan 2001-2006 - IDFG
• BA on the Gold Fork River Bull Trout
  Subpopulation -Cascade Ranger District, BNF

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Objective 1

• Recover the native bull trout populations in the
  North and South Fork Gold Fork River to
  population densities comparable to other viable
  Payette River basin population densities.

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Objective 1 Tasks

• Summarize all know fish distribution data.
• Survey all no data streams
• Identify specific stream reaches for
  manipulation.
• Identify fish invasion barriers/create barriers.
• Conduct removal treatments.
• Reintroduce native fish species.

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North Fork and South Fork Gold Fork River fish
distribution
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Objective 1 Tasks

• Collect non-lethal fin clips from Gold Fork River
  bull trout.
• Collect non-lethal fin clips from 10-12
  populations of bull trout in the Payette Basin.
• Compare and identify the genetic characteristics
  of the existing Gold Fork bull trout with the
  Payette Basin bull trout.

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Objective 2

• Remove all man-made fish passage barriers within
  the Gold Fork River.

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Objective 2 Tasks

• Evaluate all existing water structures and
  operations.
• Identify water use, water availability,water
  delivery efficiency and delivery constraints of
  the Gold Fork Irrigating Co. and Center
  Irrigation District.
• Identify best alternatives for fish passage, fish
  screening design and cost out.
• Present developed alternatives to stakeholders.
• Prioritize, obtain funding and construct fish
  passage solutions.

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Fish Passage Barriers Gold Fork River Drainage
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Gold Fork diversion dam
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Benefits of fishery restoration efforts on the
Gold Fork River

• Secure the existing isolated bull trout
  population from further risk.
• Actions constitute a major step to proposed bull
  trout recovery in the NF Payette.
• Develop techniques and methods to rebuild native
  fish assemblages.
• Connect migratory fish with Cascade Reservoir for
  the first time.

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Existing condition
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Proposed condition
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Cooperators

• Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game
• Idaho Office of Species Conservation
• Valley County Soil and Water Conservation
  District
• Idaho Dept. of Environmental Quality
• Idaho Dept. of Water Resources

• Natural Resources Conservation Service
• Boise National Forest
• Payette National Forest
• Boise Cascade Corp.
• Southwest Native Fish Watershed Advisory Group
• Cascade Reservoir Technical Advisory Committee