Conservation Update for Fall 2024

After a busy summer the Snake River Cutthroats have been busy this fall working in Swan Valley doing what we do best, conservation of cold water fisheries.

The Snake River Cutthroats recently installed a fish screen on Rainey Creek in Swan Valley. Rainey Creek is one of four tributaries to the South Fork of the Snake River that provide spawning areas for native cutthroat trout.  The screens prevent the adult fish that migrate up the creek from getting entrained (trapped) in irrigation ditches. They also prevent young fish that are returning to the South Fork from entrainment  as well. This recent ditch represents the culmination of 15+ years of effort by Trout Unlimited, an effort led by Snake River Cutthroats own Matt Woodard. Financially this screen was purchased and installed using funds from Eastside and Westside Conservation Districts, an Embrace a Stream  grant from Trout Unlimited and monies from Snake River Cutthroats. The Cutthroats raise money each year at the East Idaho Fly Tying Expo to fund conservation projects designed to protect, restore and enhance coldwater fisheries.

Just as the weather turned fall-like, wet and cold,  the Cutthroats with help from the South Fork Initiative sponsored a tree planting on Rainey Creek. This planting supplemented the planting we did in the Spring of 2023. Eighteen hardy highschool students from Ririe joined the effort planting 170 potted black cottonwood. These trees will provide shade on the creek as they grow helping to keep water temperatures lower for the trout. They also stabilize the soil reducing sedimentation and when they eventually die provide woody debris habitat in the creek. A special thanks to Dave Pace and Curtis St.Michael for running the two man auger all day!

Late in October the Cutthroats completed our semi-annual roadside cleanup. This effort is becoming quite the positive effort with eighteen volunteers participating. “Many hands makes for light work” as the saying goes. We enjoyed a barbeque afterwards which has become the new tradition for the club projects. A special thanks to Rory Cullen, Stan Weise and Rob Knox for cooking and serving the food. 

Come join us at future conservation outings working to conserve, protect and remediate cold water fisheries in South East Idaho.