Side channels, gravel and woody cover are all important for a healthy wild trout population. And while gravel augmentations may be “sexy”, unless there is safe refuge for the trout fry that hatch, then not many are going to make it to adulthood (something biologists call “recruitment”).

IDF&G has told me they think a lack of woody cover is something that is keeping the Boise River from reaching its full potential. BVFF has been working to improve woody cover by partnering with the Boise Flood District and looking for opportunities to keep some wood in the river for fish and this January they worked out the permitting logistics to retain a tree instead of removing it. See this BVFF conservation blog for more details.

This March, right before the flows came up, we were able to work with the flood district to retain a second tree in a side channel behind Expo Idaho. BVFF volunteers met with flood district manager Mark Zirschky to trim the tree back and secure it. Later this year the flood district will go through the additional permitting process to formally repurpose the tree and we will work with master arborist Zeke Willard and Idaho Tree Preservation Company to retain it.

This latest tree is in one of the side channels behind the old Les Bois racetrack at Expo Idaho where BVFF has been working with the flood district, IDF&G and the City of Boise to restore winter flows. The City of Boise is working with HDR on engineering for the Les Bois side channels and we are excited about the potential for these side channels to flow year-round again! For more information about this project, see this BVFF Conservation Blog article.

In March, BVFF also volunteered at the Diane Moore Nature Center to secure some large woody materials in their side channel to help prevent bank erosion and provide woody cover for trout. This side channel has a good amount of woody cover which will help the trout population there continue to grow.

BVFF is grateful to IDF&G, the Boise Flood District, the City of Boise and the Diane Moore Nature Center for their efforts to improve woody cover on the Boise River. We are lucky to have such great partnerships with these people and organizations. My thanks to them and to all of the volunteers who continue to help with these projects, including everyone who volunteers for our yearly Fly Fishing Expo which provides the funds we use for these projects. It will be exciting to see what the next 5 years bring!