NEWS

United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
9173 W. Barnes Dr., Suite C
Boise, Idaho 83709
 
For More Information:
Contact:  Larry Mickelsen, 208.847.0585 x104
Dastina Johnson, 208.685.6978

Photo by: Cassi Cook
 

Partnering to Protect Fish and Enhance Farming on the Bear River

MONTPELIER, Idaho, March 1, 2007 --  Weaving its way across southeastern Idaho and portions of Wyoming and Utah flows the Bear River. This river provides critical habitat for the native Bonneville cutthroat trout, who are threatened by non-native fish, and loss of habitat.

The Bear River and its tributaries also provide major sources of irrigation water for farmers and ranchers whose fields dot the riverbanks. 

However, when it is fish versus farming—the fish usually lose.  “Local landowners tell stories of filling coolers full of native fish trapped in the irrigation ditches at the end of the irrigation season,” said Larry Mickelsen, District Conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Montpelier.

Trout Unlimited, landowner Dennis Carlsen and the Ovid Irrigation Company approached Mickelsen about applying for NRCS’s Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) to cost share a better fish passage and improved irrigation system.  The Bear Lake Soil and Water Conservation District was instrumental in getting all partners involved.

A large irrigation diversion structure and screen on Bear River tributary, Ovid Creek, is now in place.  It is expected to prevent the fish from being trapped and killed when traveling up and down the spawning tributary.

NRCS Civil Engineer, Dale Gooby drew up plans for the fish screen.  It has no moving parts and requires no power.  Some say it is virtually maintenance free.   “The hydraulic action cleans the screens,” said Gooby.  “Water is vertically discharged onto the screen face.  Turbulence causes localized flow reversal, which dislodges trash.  A bypass pipe is used to transport fish back to the stream, while screened water is discharged into the canal.”

Funding for the $45,000 project came from three sources.  A successful WHIP application provided 75 percent of the funding while the Bear River Project Environmental Coordination Committee (ECC) picked up the other 25 percent.  Trout Unlimited also pitched in when actual costs rose above the original estimate.

NRCS enjoys the partnership said Mickelsen, “ECC is good to work with.  The committee is filled with folks from environmental groups that we have partnered with before.  Our goals for conservation are similar, and I expect we’ll continue joint projects for years to come."

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

< Back to News Releases