Narrows Project Phase 1 ends

The $1.4-million Narrows Rock Scaling Project Phase 1 near Milepost 206 on Idaho Highway 75 began April 1 and will be finished this week.  Actual scaling activities ended last week.  Project contractor DEBCO continues work this week hauling off debris and securing the site.  The twice daily two-hour closures also ended in time for Memorial Day weekend. Some photos and a video of Phase 1 are below.

Phase 2 of The Narrows project begins on or about June 1 and will continue until August 2015. Contractor for this $9.9-million project will be Knife River Corporation, NW, Boise.  Phase 2 involves netting the steep rock cliff face through The Narrows, as well as building barriers to keep errant rocks from the roadway.

Until September 15th during Phase 2, drivers can expect 15-minute delays during weekday working hours.  Automated traffic lights will manage a alternating five-minute cycle for motorists at other times.

"The Challis Messenger" plans to print a correction in the May 23rd issue regarding a report last week that the two-hour delays would continue in Phase 2.  Both the newspaper Editor and a spokesman for the US Department of Transportation have confirmed that the regular twice-daily, two-hour delays will not be a part of Phase 2 during the busy summer season.  However, the two-hour delays will return September 15th.

The two-hour delays ended last week. Fifteen minute delays began May 16 and will continue through September 15. Two-hour delays are allowed 10:00 am - 12:00 noon and 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm Monday through Friday, September 15 through May 15.

Below is a 1:42 video of a drive through The Narrow Rock Scaling Project recorded on May 8th.  Photos of the project shown below were also taken that day.

 If the embedded video doesn't show up--here is the link: http://youtu.be/BO92fg_RkTg

We were lucky on May 8th to be stopped at the head of the waiting line.

If you look closely into the river canyon, you can see the Warm Creek confluence.

 Ten human rock scalers accomplished the bulk for the hazard removal activities.

 Phase1 contractor DEBCO also utilized some mechanical scaling equipment.

 We were very happy to be delayed and at the front of the line!

Watching human rock scalers in action is a rare and dramatic sight.

Material removed from The Narrows cliff face was trucked to an area downriver near Holman Creek.
The material will be use in various other highway projects including possible river bank stabilization projects.

The PITs

PIT tags are a hot topic as chinook salmon begin to swim from the sea to spawn.

PIT tag data essentially holds the key to determining when and where there might be a chinook salmon fishing season on one or more sections of The Upper Salmon River.

Fisheries biologists closely watch daily data of PIT-tagged fish passing Bonneville and the various other dams on The Columbia and Snake Rivers.  Of keen interest to IDFG Staff at this time are the numbers of PIT-tagged fish from the Sawtooth and Pahsimeroi Hatcheries.

If sufficient numbers of these PIT-tagged fish are recorded passing through the dams, Staff may possibly recommend a chinook salmon fishing season of some duration on one or more sections of The Upper Salmon River.  As of the May 16th IDFG Commission meeting Staff asked that more data be collected before making any recommendation.  At this time it is too early to predict whether enough fish are returning to make a recommendation.

As of mid-May, very few Sawtooth and Pasimeroi PIT-tagged fished have been recorded at Bonneville Dam and almost none at Lower Granite Dam.  Our sources indicate this is not a cause for concern at this time.  PIT tag numbers in the next couple of weeks will be a key factor in the variables that go into whether a recommendation might be made to open a chinook fishing season.

We put together a short PIT tag primer using online slides from the Columbia Basin PIT Tag Information System (PTAGIS)

Click here for the short introduction to the components of a PIT tag.

Click here to visit the PTAGIS Learning page: http://www.ptagis.org/learn

Sockeye smolts released

Hundreds of sockeye salmon smolts were released May 9 into the Redfish Lake Outlet. About 800 of the smolts were raised in the NOAA Fisheries Seattle-area facility. The remainder were raised at the Sawtooth Hatchery. We took 135 photo Thursday as the smolts were being loaded and released.  We put together 30 of those pictures into a Facebook album. Each photo is captioned to tell the story.  You can click the link below to view the album.  You do not need a Facebook account to view the album.  (The photo above is a screen shot of the album collage.)

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.252002184940698.1073741830.100003927540233&type=1&l=01056ab5bd

Salmon headwaters protection proposed

Click on any graphic in this article to see a larger version.

The most distant extent of occupied salmon and steelhead waters within the Columbia River drainage has for decades endured some of the most pronounced road related impacts remaining with The Salmon River headwaters area.

The Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA) has proposed to close 2.5 miles of an existing road that fords, encroaches on and even shares the channel with a portion of the upper most reaches of the flowing Salmon River. Four wheel vehicle travel criss-crosses the river causing chronic erosion, scours and washouts.  The road has even been known to "capture" the river.

"This road alignment has proved neither appropriate nor sustainable," said Joby Timm, Area Ranger for the SNRA.

The SNRA proposal would replace the existing road with a new single-track motorized trail and relocate the Headwaters Trailhead to the Chemeketan Campground which is located approximately 3 miles south of Hwy 75 on Forest Road #215.

Public scoping on the proposal were taken from March 8-April 8, 2013.  SNRA Resource Managers and Planners are now evaluating comments to decide whether the project will need a full Environmental Analysis or if a "Finding of No Significant Impact" can be justified.

If the SNRA proposal becomes a project, the existing road would remain open until the new trail could be constructed.  If funding is available, the changes could be implemented no sooner than the summer or fall of 2014.

If funding is not secured within the SNRA budget, success of the project would depend on the support of possible inter-agency, inter-governmental and public-private partnerships.

To help our readers better understand the location and scope of this project, we present below a variety of graphics.  Ranger Timm's official March 8th Scoping Letter is reprinted here verbatim in italics.  (NOTE: Figures 1-3 are not shown in this article. Photos 1-6 are below the letter. See additional graphics below the photo page.)


Dear Sir/Madam,

We are considering a project that may be of interest to you. The purpose of this letter is to inform you of the proposal and provide you an opportunity for comments or questions. Your input is important to us as we begin the analysis of this project in order to help us determine if, or how, it will be implemented.

Currently, Road 70215 beyond (south) of Chemeketan Campground (T6N, R14E, Sections 14, 23, 26, and 35; Blaine County; Figures 1, 2, and 3) follows the valley bottom for the majority of its length, passing through wet meadows (Photo 5), and fording, encroaching, or sharing the channel of the Salmon River (Photos 3 and 4) in several locations. The final ½ mile leaves the bottom, but intersects and fords several side tributaries (Photo 2), as well as the Salmon River one last time. These chronic conditions have existed for several decades, deteriorating substantially at times, such as when the road has captured a segment of river (Photo 3). Avoidance of these scour points or washout segments by road users has also resulted in the slow migration of the road alignment within the valley bottom through time, often creating new conflicts. As such, this road alignment has proved neither appropriate nor sustainable within this valley bottom location

The Sawtooth NRA proposes to relocate the existing Headwaters Trailhead approximately 2½ miles north to the proximity of Chemeketan Campground (Figure 3). This new trailhead would become the terminus of Headwaters Road 70215. A new single-track motorized trail would connect this new trailhead location with the existing motorized Mule Creek Trail (7198) (i.e. trail served by the existing trailhead). The new trail segment would be aligned off the valley bottom, on the gentle to moderate lower east slopes until reconnecting with the existing Trail 7198 (Figure 3, and Photo 6). Beyond the new trailhead, the existing road, as well as a short segment of existing trail, would be closed and natural conditions rehabilitated using established methods, including the locations where the road currently fords or intersects the Salmon River and its source tributaries.

The new trailhead facilities would be designed and established to accommodate a demand commensurate with the existing trailhead, and in recognition of the nearby Chemeketan Campground. If pursued, the proposed changes would be implemented no sooner than summer/fall 2014. The existing system routes would remain open until the new trail and trailhead is complete and ready for use.

The restoration objectives would occur during the fall when site conditions are at their seasonal driest and site restoration efforts are most effective.
These changes are intended to address the chronic resource impacts, while continuing to provide the recreation opportunities common in the area, in sustainable locations. The Sawtooth Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (2012) prescribes Active Restoration and Maintenance of Aquatic,Terrestrial & Hydrologic Resources for the general area containing the project. It also specifically directs objectives that will reduce road related sediment delivery to waterways, including: "modify localized portions of roads and trails within the Salmon River headwaters" (Objective 249). The Salmon River in its headwaters is also designated critical habitat for three species of ESA-protected fish: Snake River Chinook salmon and steelhead, and Columbia River bull trout. For salmon and steelhead, these habitats, near Chemeketan Campground, are the most distant extent of occupied salmon waters within the Columbia River drainage. These road conditions undermine this important habitat, and constitute some of the most pronounced road related impacts remaining within the headwater area.

Our planning is currently underway. A decision regarding the proposal is expected in 2013. The Responsible Official for the decision to be made is Sawtooth National Recreation Area Ranger, Joby Timm. Your feedback regarding this proposal would be most helpful if received by the project leader, Mark Moulton, by April 8, 2013. Please be aware that comments received, including the names and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the public record and will be available for public inspection.

Below is the official SNRA graphic depicting the proposed project. 

Additional notes appear below each graphic.

 This is a Google Earth view looking in a northerly perspective.  The red "X" marks Chemeketan Campground.  The Salmon River technically heads on the slopes of an unnamed peak shown as "Y"  The name "Chemeketa" is said to be a Native American word which roughly translates as "meeting place."

 Above is a view looking in a southerly perspective from Chemeketan Campround into the very highest headwaters of The Salmon River.

 Here is a topo from Acme Maps showing the uppermost headwaters of The Salmon River.  If you look closely, you can see how the Headwaters Trail and what is now the Mule Creek Trail #7198 interact with the terrain to cross the watershed divide between the Salmon and Boise River basins.

Finally, here is one more Acme Map.  The red "X" is Chemeketan Campground.  The SNRA proposal essentially wants to protect the fragile areas of the uppermost headwaters of The Salmon River.

(Editor's Note: "Salmon River News" has written an editorial about this project.  Click here to read it.)

Halstead Fire benefits mushroom

Now that the 2012 Halstead Fire has long since been entered into the history books, attention turns to a predictable benefit--the harvest of coveted morel mushrooms in The Salmon River headwaters.

Early this month The Salmon-Challis National Forest (SCNF) announced morel mushroom gathering for personal use will be permitted in the Halstead burned area on both the adjacent Sawtooth National Forest.  As an additional bonus, commercial mushroom harvesting will not be allowed within the Halstead burned areas.

Mushroom seasons vary depending on weather conditions but generally last from May through September.  Mushrooms collected under the free use permit must be cut in half lengthwise at the time of harvest and cannot be resold commercially.  Free use harvester are allowed 5 gallons per day (approximately 2 grocery bags) per person.

All mushroom harvesting is limited to hand picking and motorized travel is restricted to open roads and trails only.  Mushroom seekers must carry their permit when they are gathering.

Free use permits for The Halstead burned areas are only available at the SCNF offices in Mackay, Challis, Salmon, Leadore and North Fork.  All offices are closed on weekends and holidays and generally close at 4:30 on weekdays.

Note that mushroom gathering will also be allowed on the Mustang Fire burned area.  However, the Mustang is also open to commercial harvesters as well.

Here are some links to help you understand the presence of morel mushrooms in burned areas:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morchella

http://www.fungusfun.com/mushroom-hunting/85-the-fire-morel-and-fire-morel-hunting.html

http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_rn546.pdf

http://www.matsiman.com/formalpubs/Pilz%20et%20al%20Morels04.pdf

Salmon Riverfest becomes "can't miss" event

The Salmon Riverfest began in 2011 with an informal downriver race and a weekend party.  Riverfest events expanded last year and included exciting race events near Shoup.  This year, The 3rd Annual Riverfest has really hit its stride and is now a "can't miss" event to help kick off the summer river running season.  Organizers worked all winter to put together a great selection activities for everyone whether they are a river runner or not.

Although Riverfest is a major fund-raiser for the Salmon Whitewater Park Association, it's clear that Riverfest has now also catapulted into a signature event of the annual cycle of the Salmon, Idaho, activities calendar.

The 3rd Annual RiverFest will be held June 7th and 8th in Salmon. Riverfest starts Friday the 7th with an 11 am dedication ceremony to honor local river hermit Dugout Dick on Hwy 93 South at the new interpretive display in his honor.

A Friday night film fest of both amateur and professional outdoor films with pizza, beverages, and raffle will be held upstairs at the Odd Fellows’ Hall starting at 6pm.

On Saturday the 8th, RiverFest will start with an 11am parade on Main Street, followed by a "Blessing of The Boats" and then a fun float from Shoup Bridge to the downtown Island Park river access site under the Hwy 93 bridge.

A standup paddleboard river display and kayaker team big ball challenge will take place early afternoon and can be seen from the Hwy 93 bridge

The Farmer’s Market will be in full swing in Town Square Park from 9-1, followed by a pig roast and the Clumsy Lovers band from 6-9 pm at Town Square Park.

Riverfest organizer Breann Westfall said, "There will be plenty of delicious food, beverages, and an amazing band. Bring your lawn chair, these are definitely spectator events."

Ms. Westfall explained the project that Riverfest benefits:

"Riverfest is a fund raising event for The Salmon Whitewater Park Association (SWPA), a locally driven Idaho non-profit association with a mission to facilitate the fundraising, construction, and longevity of a whitewater park in Salmon, Idaho for recreational river opportunity and to boost the local economy.

Our dedicated group of volunteers consists of Russ Chinske (chairman), Craig McCallum (vice chairman), Amy Tonsmeire (secretary), Mark Troy (treasurer), Breann Westfall (project manager), Chace Slavin, Seth Tonsmeire, Preston Rufe, Michael Philpott, and Jo Philpott.

Although the idea for a whitewater park in Salmon spawned in 2005, our current group has been actively pursuing our goal since summer 2010. The process to build a whitewater park is long, tedious and requires tireless volunteer hours.

SWPA has made much headway in the development of the park. Most recently, a Phase I Agreement was signed between the City of Salmon and SWPA, which includes developing and soliciting for Final Engineering Plans and hiring a local environmental consultant to work on the project's permitting. At the March 20th City Council meeting, the Council voted to accept SWPA's Request for Proposals for Final Engineering Plans under the Phase I Agreement.

This spring and summer, a committee of selected City Councilmen, SWPA representatives, and Lemhi County Economic Development Association representatives will solicit reputable whitewater park engineering firms for Final Engineering Plan proposals. After obtaining the Plans, SWPA will then be able to apply for needed state and federal permits for the park. This will be a detailed process that will involves public meetings and comments. SWPA is eager to understand concerns and implement exactly what the Salmon community wants the park to look like.

To date, SWPA has received grants from the City of Salmon LOT, Steele-Reese Foundation (2011 and 2012), Hemmert Foundation (2005 and 2013), and the Idaho Wild Rivers License Plate Grant. MANY private donations have also made a huge impact on our efforts. We cannot thank the local business owners and Salmon community members enough that have donated to the development of the whitewater park."

Click here for Salmon River Idaho articles on last the two previous Riverfests, as well as the whitewater park:

http://www.salmonriveridaho.net/2012/05/salmon-riverfest.html

http://www.salmonriveridaho.net/2012/06/riverfest-photos.html

http://www.salmonriveridaho.net/2012/08/salmon-whitewater-park-gains-momentum.html

Salmon River Area Campground Status

Here's Your Sign.

Public developed camping areas are all open from North Fork upriver to the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA) boundary near Thompson Creek.

All of the BLM and IDFG camping areas along the river can be utilized but may not have running water or a camp host yet.  Typically, these camping areas receive little, if any, usage between the end of steelhead season April 30 and Memorial Day weekend.

About 90% of the SNRA campgrounds are closed, gated and locked.  As of mid-May, only the Whiskey Flats, Mormon Bend and Salmon River campgrounds were officially open.  Upper O'Brien is officially closed but can be used since it is not gated.  During our visit to The Upper Salmon River May 8-10, we observed only one RV camper along the river and no tent campers elsewhere.

Most SNRA campgrounds are managed  under a special-use permit by Scenic Canyons Recreational Services, Inc., Hyrum, Utah.  Currently, the company's web links for SNRA campgrounds are not functioning. Many of Scenic Canyons' camp hosts were in the process of moving in last week.

Redfish Lake overflow area.

The only camping area open near Stanley is an area known as the Redfish Lake Overflow Area.  This area has an improved main road and a pit toilet. There are other dispersed camping areas along the river for four miles above Stanley and 27 miles below Stanley.  Only camp sites with a fire ring and a carsonite sign are legal to occupy. Most of the dispersed campsites are adjacent to Highway 75, have marginal parking and may not have a sanitation facility nearby.

Here is the SNRA's schedule for opening its Sawtooth/Salmon area campgrounds and day use facilities:

Opening May 17

• Redfish Outlet Campground (CG) & Outlet Day Use and Beach
• Red Fish North Shore Picnic & Beach
• Mt. View CG
• Chinook Bay CG
• Casino Creek CG
• Upper O'Brien CG
• Lower O'Brien CG
• Holman Creek CG

Opening May 24

• Sockeye CG
• Sandy Beach Boat Ramp
• Glacier View CG
• Point CG and Point Day use and beach
• Sunny Gulch CG
• Stanley Lake CG
• Stanley Lake Inlet CG
• Elk Creek CG
• Pettit Lake CG

Opening May 31

• Alturas Lake Tent Area
• Alturas Lake Picnic Area
• Smokey Bear CG and Smokey Bear Boat Ramp and Picnic Area
• North Shore CG
• Alturas Inlet CG and Alturas Inlet Beach and Picnic Area

Opening June 7

• Redfish Inlet CG
• Mt. Heyborn CG
• Riverside CG
• Iron Creek CG
• Lake View CG
• Chemeketan CG

First Year in Review

The "Salmon River Idaho" website was born May 10, 2012.  That's when we bought the domain name "salmonriveridaho.net."

We had no idea what to expect and, frankly, not much of an idea about what we were going to put on the website. Initially, we thought we would create a detailed river guide from Stanley to North Fork.  However, we quickly realized there was a genuine need for "Salmon River News."

The Salmon River has legions of Friends seemingly everywhere.  The river's Friends are actually more than Friends.  They LOVE Their Salmon River.  Over generations and throughout lives, people has formed a personal relationship with The Salmon River.  The river is part of their heart, spirit and, indeed, their soul.

It didn't take long a year ago to realize this website tapped into a natural need for news about "all things Salmon River."  Whether it's fish, flows, fires or fun, people seem to have an endless appetite for Salmon River News.

What a wildly exhilarating, educational and enjoyable ride the past year has been with this website.  The first year's success of this website has far, far exceeded our own expectations.  We would have been very happy with 10,000 pageviews in our first year.  Instead, we topped 52,000 pageviews on May 10.  That's an average of 1,000 page views a week.  (Pageviews are much different than hits.  Some internet experts say you can generally multiply pageviews by a factor of up to ten to estimate what people call "hits.")

A few days ago, we checked our own website records and were surprised to see we wrote 155 articles during the past year.  We posted over 700 photographs and graphics in those articles.  Those statistics, too, are far in excess of what we anticipated a year ago.

The Halstead Fire article should probably be counted as more than one article since each of the 40+ updates we did were essentially stand-alone articles.  The website's visitors seemingly couldn't get enough of The Halstead Fire article.  It alone had 8,000 pageviews or roughly 15% of the total annual pageviews.

We'd love to tell stories about this website but then this article would become far too long and boring.  Suffice to say we are humbled, pleased, happy and proud of what has transpired during the past 12 months.

We obviously couldn't have done it without our readers.  We are so proud of our website visitors and readers.  It is an honor and a privilege to face the challenge of continuing to provide the content people will want to come and read on a regular basis.

Our website statistics show the majority of our visitors are long-term repeat visitors who generally reside in Boise, Lewiston, Spokane, Missoula, Salmon, Challis, Stanley, Idaho Falls, Sun Valley, Pocatello, Twin Falls, Mountain Home and Salt Lake City.

We have a lot of plans for the upcoming year.  Right now, we have a backlog of at least a dozen articles that need to be written and posted.  We just returned from our first visit to Salmon River Country for Year 2013.  Naturally, we picked up all sorts of news that needs to be reported and stories that need to be told.

Here is a general outline of our objectives for Year Two.

• Meet or exceed the benchmark of 150 articles in the coming year.
• Do a better job covering trout stocking, salmon and steelhead seasons.
• Develop a better working relationship with IDFG and the Department's partners.
• Include more detailed and comprehensive information about public river access and camping.
• Develop a better partnership with the three Chambers of Commerce.
• Promote selected businesses which play a key role in delivering important services to the public.
• Do a better job explaining the Yankee Fork rehabilitation project and how is relates to the main river.
• Develop a better relationship with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes.
• Continue coverage of The Salmon Whitewater Park Project.
• Continue assisting efforts to create and improve a memorial for Dugout Dick.
• Attempt to explain the evolving cultural paradigm shift that is happening on The Salmon River.
• Attempt to interpret The Salmon River's gateway communities for distant readers and visitors.
• Do a better job integrating watershed education into the website.
• Make room for freelance feature writers & photographers who might wish to showcase their work.
• Spend more time paddling the river in our inflatable kayak.
• Continue to assist, promote and showcase key non-profit organizations.
• Do a better job organizing the website's archives so they are readily accessible and useful.

During the past year, we learned that Facebook is a genuine, important and vital partner to the success of this website.  We are deeply grateful to our 299 Facebook Friends for all they have done for the Salmon River News website.

In light of that recognition, our goal in the coming year is to increase our Facebook Friends to 1,000 and to help our Friends better understand how the "share" function helps spread the word about "all things Salmon River."  We're all in this together and Facebook helps spread the word far and wide.

We would also like to make better use of our Twitter account.

We plan to spend one week each month along The Salmon River, perhaps more.  We welcome your donations to help defray our travel costs.  Each monthly trip costs roughly $200.  We figure we need to spend at least $1,000 a summer traveling to and from and up and down The Salmon River--and that's if we're tent camping.  Lodging would run that figure far higher.  Last summer we received $185 in donations and that actually helped "the cause" a lot.

Thank YOU so much for YOUR Support!  We are looking forward to the upcoming year.

Let's all Enjoy The Salmon River this summer.  Get out and get your feet wet.  Get Your Fish On and Your Fun Face On, too!  Let The Good Times Roll.

Happy Trails & Many Cheers, John Parsons

May 1 NRCS Basin Outlook Report

The May 1 status of The Salmon River watershed

As the winter finally morphs to spring, all eyes turn to watch and wonder about the snowpack.  How much snow did The Salmon River watershed actually receive?  What are the forecasts for runoff and stream flow?
Generally, the May 1st USDA NRCS Basin Outlook Report is the most anticipated and widely read of the monthly series from January to June.

Here is what the report says for The Salmon River:


"Four months and counting - that is how long it’s been since the Salmon basin had an above average amount of precipitation. Just to the north all SNOTELs in the Clearwater basin got more than their usual April precipitation, but the wet zone stopped just inside the Salmon basin. Only Mountain Meadows SNOTEL site, the Salmon basin’s most northern site, had above average precipitation for the month. Basin-wide precipitation was 75% of average in April, leaving water year to date precipitation at 91% of average. The Salmon basin snowpack peaked at about 80% of the 1981-2010 normal peak amount. Despite being less than normal this season’s snow remained near its peak amount from late March through late April thanks to melt during warm periods being balanced by additional accumulation during cool, stormy periods. Snowmelt in early April and again during the last week of the month produced two moderate streamflow peaks. There is still plenty of snow left to fuel another snow-melt driven peak. For the MF Salmon expect that peak to occur when the snow at Banner Summit SNOTEL is half melted, which this year will occur when 10 inches of snow water remains. 2007 had a similar snowpack and the MF Salmon had twin peaks in the 5500-6000 cfs range. If the weather stays warm this year’s snowmelt peak could occur by mid-May. Use the snow-stream graphs to track this year’s snowmelt and runoff: 

http://www.id.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/watersupply/peakflow.html

Depending on the weather, rain can always produce a later peak especially if it occurs before the snow is gone. Streamflow forecasts percentages decreased for the Lemhi from last month, but remained steady for most other points. The May-July streamflow forecasts range from 56% of average for the Lemhi to 80% for the SF Salmon. The MF Salmon is forecast for 80%, while the Salmon at Salmon’s forecast is 70%."

NRCS Water Supply Special Ron Abramovich described this winter's precipitation in a nutshell:

"Apparently, Mother Nature spent most of her snow budget during Christmas this year and forgot to save enough for the rest of winter. After a great start with abundant fall rains and snow, major storms avoided Idaho for the most part shortly after the winter solstice."

Abramovich went on to describe spring weather than would help augment water yield from the below-normal snowpack:

"What is certain and needed now to improve the runoff is rain. Cold and wet is better than just cold. Wet weather would reduce irrigation demand even more, allow farmers to utilize the spring precipitation to replace irrigation water and allow the water saved to be used later this summer when we know it will be dry. Another option to melt snow and increase efficiency or maximize the amount of water that reaches the reservoirs is to turn the heat up. This would increase snowmelt rates to 1-2 inches per day, exceeding maximum soil infiltration rates, allowing more water to reach the reservoirs. However, this option would not benefit natural streamflow water right holders as much, nor those with late summer river rafting trips."

As usual in each monthly Basin Outlook Report, Abramovich includes a Recreational forecast and perspectives:


RECREATION
"Snowmelt streamflow peaks have occurred in the Owyhee, Weiser, and Camas Creek near Fairfield along with other lower elevation watersheds. Cold temperatures and lack of rain near the end of April reduced snowmelt and kept streamflows at near record low levels in late April in the Payette, Boise, and Upper Snake. In contrast, streamflow levels in the Owyhee River and Camas Creek are approaching near record low because of the drought. On the positive side, snowmelt peak flows have not occurred yet on Salmon Falls Creek, Bruneau River and other higher elevation watersheds. Additional snowmelt streamflow relationship information is available on the Idaho NRCS Peak Streamflow Resources web page: http://www.id.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/watersupply/peakflow.html. This page includes streamflow recession graphs to view current trends, and a similar year that is based on the current snowpack, spring ENSO climatic conditions and analog years which are 2002, 1968 and 1963, or years with a similar flow pattern. Snow-streamflow comparison graphs are now automated and will be updated several times per week during the critical runoff season to provide guidance on snowmelt streamflow peaks."

Below is the complete May Basin Outlook Report in embedded format so that you can read it online without downloading it.  The NRCS link to the document is below the embedded version.

Here is the link to the full report:

ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/ID/snow/watersupply/bor/2013/borid513.pdf

First Annual Peak Flow Contest

May 1st marked the debut of The First Annual Peak Flow Contest (PFC).  Two days later, 28 people have already entered the contest.  The PFC is based on our Facebook account which is a companion to this website: https://www.facebook.com/salmonriveridaho

We will be posting on Facebook frequently each day about the PFC.  Due to the way Facebook "behaves," we are also preparing this article so that the supporting data can be easily found.

34 Ace Of Diamonds Street, Stanley (208) 774-3516

First, however, let's review the PFC itself.  Anyone can enter. Only one guess per person will be accepted.  The contest is free.  A Facebook account is not needed to enter.  The prize is a $20 dollar gift certificate from Stanley's famous Kasino Club, plus the winner will have bonus bragging rights for the next year!

Here are the three ways to enter a date and time you think The Salmon River will peak at the USGS Yankee Fork gauge near Sunbeam Village.

• Comment on a Facebook post about the PFC.
• Send your guess to: peakflow@salmonriveridaho.net
• Give your guess in person to Shauna or John Graham at The Kasino Club, 34 Ace Of Diamonds Street, Stanley

Below you will find a variety of various information that may help you create a guess to enter in the contest.  We will add new information here as it is received.  Generally, each graphic has an explanation below the graphic.

Above is a spreadsheet (updated @ 10 am May 3rd) that we will maintain on a daily basis until we are certain that the peak has taken place.  Currently, the average date of guesses for th May peak flow is May 21st.  The average for June is June 10.  The average for July is July 18.

 This is the Galena Summit graph for "Snow Water Equivalent" (SWE).  SWE is really the number to watch. The depth of the snowpack itself is interesting but it's the actual water inside the snow that makes the river run.

 Here is the graph showing the Galena Summit snowpack for the entire Water Year.  A Water Year begins on October 1st and ends the following September 30th.

Here is the link so you can watch the USDA NRCS Galena Summit SNOTEL SWE and snowpack yourself: http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/nwcc/site?sitenum=490&state=id

After you click on the above link, the page you will see is shown above.  Click on the link to the right of our red "X" in this graphic.

The graphic above shows what you will see when you have clicked on the link for Snow Depth over the past 7 days.  You can alter the time frame and create a wide variety of reports on the USDA NRCS Snow Survey website.  Astute contest entrants may wish to peruse additional Idaho SNOTEL sites.  The SNOTEL gateway page is located here: http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snotel/Idaho/idaho.html

 As of April 29th, this is the latest projection of when the overall Salmon River Basin SWE might be totally depleted.  Simply look carefully at the various colored lines and use the key above the chart itself.

Above you see the dates of the Peak Flow at Yankee Fork from 2000-2012.  Unfortunately, there is a data gap prior to Year 2000.

Above is the hydrograph in cubic feet per second for the Yankee Fork USGS gauge from March 1 to April 30.

Above is the water level at Yankee Fork stated in feet instead of cubic feet per second.

Above is a USGS-provided photo of the Yankee Fork stream gauge.  Here it is website:
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/id/nwis/uv/?site_no=13296500&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060,00010

You can find all sorts of interesting historical information on this website including dates for annual peak flows prior to the Year 2000.

You may also wish to monitor the flows of Valley Creek and The Yankee Fork.  To do so, simply go to the Idaho stream flow site and scroll down to the Salmon River Basin section.  Valley Creek and Yankee Fork are the first two listings.

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/id/nwis/current/?type=flow

Above is a map that shows the area of The Salmon River watershed above the Yankee Fork gauge.  In other words, the stream flow recorded at the Yankee Fork gauge is (at this time of year) predominately a result of the direct melting of snow in the area of the watershed ABOVE the Yankee Fork gauge.
The flow at Yankee Fork is the sum of the Yankee Fork watershed itself (outlined in purple) plus the area of The Main Salmon that is to the left of the red line in the graphic above.

Finally, here is a panorama of the Yankee Fork confluence looking downriver toward the site of the Yankee Fork USGS gauge itself.  The Yankee Fork is coming in from the left.  (Click on the photo to see a larger version.)

IDFG Steelhead Report #10

IDFG Salmon Region Fisheries Technician Brent Beller describes the latest steelhead fishing report, "The steelhead fishing this past weekend on the upper Salmon River picked up slightly over the previous week. The majority of anglers were found in section 19, near the Sunbeam Dam area or in section 17, near the mouth of the Pahsimeroi River. Minimal angler effort was observed in section 18.  Anglers in section 17 had an average catch rate of 14 hours per steelhead, while in section 18, the catch rate was 4 hours per steelhead.  In section 19, anglers averaged 12 hours per steelhead and reported 47 steelhead caught."

As usual, you can click the graphic for a larger, more readable version.

IDFG Steelhead Report #9

IDFG Salmon Region Fisheries Technician Brent Beller reports, "The fishing on the upper Salmon River this weekend was similar to the previous week. The majority of anglers were found either near the mouth of the Pahsimeroi River or near the mouth of the Yankee Fork."

"Few anglers were observed in section 18. Anglers in section 17 averaged 19 hours per steelhead caught, while in section 18, they averaged 123 hours per steelhead. Section 19 had a catch rate of 24 hours per steelhead and was the most popular river stretch for anglers," Beller said.

You can click the graphic to see a larger, more readable version.

Stanley Area Steelhead Report

Our contacts in the Stanley area indicate steelhead fishing success varies according to the weather and water temperatures.  So far, there's no reports of excessively cloudy or muddy water, although the water has dirtied up from time-to-time.

Steelhead returns to the Sawtooth Hatchery are running strong during April.  The IDFG website reports the Sawtooth Hatchery has received 2,739 steelhead as of April 11.  Approx 2,300 of those have been trapped so far this month, including 950 fish on Monday and 450 on Thursday.  Hatchery Staff noted quite a few fish in the 28-30 inch range.


This week has been rather cold in the Stanley area and a few inches of snow covered the vicinity Saturday morning.  Not too many fishermen have been out in the colder weather but 10 vehicles were noted at Buckhorn Bridge Friday afternoon.

In late March, the afternoon water temperatures generally reached the low 40 degree range.  Despite the cooler temps lately, the afternoon water temps have averaged over 46 degrees so far during April. At left is a graphic showing the daily minimum and maximum water temps for the first 11 days of April in the Stanley area.

Our contacts report occasional good fishing 10-15 miles downriver from Stanley, mostly with jigs.

The Pahsimeroi Hatchey has trapped 3,194 steelhead this season and 386 steelhead have been trapped at the East Fork weir.

Below is the latest IDFG steelhead trapping summary:

Click on any graphic for a larger, more readable version.
Here is the IDFG data page: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/hdms/steelhead/index.html

Below is the graph on how the Sawtooth twice-weekly trapping has been going this season.

East Fork Salmon River Bridges bids solicited

You can click on the graphic above to see a larger, more readable version.

It's official.  The legal notice for the East Fork Bridges Project hit the newspapers this week, appearing in "The Challis Messenger" April 11.  The "Notice of Letting" is dated April 8th.

This is going to be a very big project involving the construction of two bridges simultaneously.  One bridge will span The East Fork and the other will span The Salmon River just west of The East Fork.

The bridges will be constructed south of the existing Highway 75 so that traffic can flow largely unimpeded.  However, delays are likely during various phases of the construction project.

The Idaho Transportation Department (IDT) has been reconstructing various bridges on The Upper Salmon River for years.  The most recent projects in this vicinity between Challis and Stanley were the Slate Creek and Ice Corner bridges.

As far as river users go, this particular project could result in significant changes to fishing and recreational boating in this area.

During past bridge projects, boaters have not been allowed to pass underneath the bridge project area for obvious liability reasons.

There is an informal, undeveloped river access area on "river left" immediately downriver from the existing Highway 75 bridge.  We have made numerous inquiries of IDT, BLM, IDFG, "The Challis Messenger" and "The Post-Register" in Idaho Falls about how this project is going to affect the informal river access area.

We have come up empty-handed since our first inquiries last July.  We wish we had more to report about this situation.

Inflatables that can be hand carried might be able to launch from the BLM East Fork Recreation Area.  However at this time, we do not know if the BLM will keep the site open during the construction phase.

River users who put-in at the Squaw Creek Access Area will most likely have to find an alternate take-out upriver from the Hwy 75 bridge project.

The project is likely to affect drift boat users more than inflatable boat users.

One thing's for certain--when a plan set goes to bid as it has this week, the project is set in stone.  The opportunity to address the impact on river usage has now passed.  We will attempt to continue to look into this evolving situation.  Meanwhile, if you are a regular user of this are of The Salmon River--be prepared for substantial changes during at least the next two field seasons.

The bid solicitation stipulates the project must be completed "WITHIN 160 WORKING DAYS"  (caps emphasis by IDT).  Cost is estimated to be between $5-million and $10-million dollars.

CACC Steelhead Derby & Ball Report

Thirteenth Annual Steelhead Derby & Ball

Press Release by Melissa Perkins Fitzgerald

Executive Director, Challis Area Chamber of Commerce

Oh What a Night…
The Challis Area Chamber of Commerce held the Thirteenth Annual Steelheaders’ Ball on Saturday, April 6, at the new Challis Community Event Center, on Clinic Road.
The lights were lit (power plants light courtesy of the Thompson Creek Mining and Westfall Construction) the stage was set (Horsin’ Around Band) the tables were set with linens and delicious scents came from the kitchen (courtesy of Village Inn Restaurant)

Build it and they will come…
Curiosity got the better of most. Several in attendance came just to see the new event center. They came slowly at first, but eventually the great room filled. Approximately ninety dinners were served and later there were an estimated 150 people in attendance.

Dancing the night away…
Adults and children filled the dance floor with room to spare. The increased space allowed many to show off their high stepping and swing talents. Local band, Horsin’ Around filled the hall with a combination of rockin’ roll classic and contemporary country standards. The band features the talents of Travis Hardy, Wanda Swigert, Chris MacDonald, Scott Lee and Fred Jacobs Meyer.

SOLD!!!
The live auction lent excitement and competitive interaction amongst the crowd. Auctioneer J.R. Baker donated his talents and brought with him two guest Auctioneers, Patrick & William Seefried. The auction raised just shy of $1800. for the chamber.

Derby results:
Derby entries were down this year. Some blamed the weather; others claimed there were less fish. However, that did not stop the true die-hard fisherman.

Mike Rukavina placed First in the Big Fish contest. Mike’s fish measured 31”.
His award was $100. Mike also won the two out of five weeks of the Mystery Fish contests.
Rick Frost placed Second with a fish of 28 ¾”. He won $75.
Last but not least, Sarah Baker placed Third with a fish of also, 28 ¾”. She won $50.

Mystery Fish contests weeks three and four were won by Walter Parker and Dennis Dubois. Mystery Fish contest winners were awarded a $50. gift certificate to the Bent Rod Outdoors. Surprisingly, there were no entries in week five of the Mystery Fish contest. If you would have entered, chances are you would have won.

Derby entry fees raised $580. for the chamber. There were 29 participants. Notably absent from this year’s derby were Earl & Mary Skeen and Steve & Renee Petersen.

Raffles: OMG  
The event featured four raffles. The 50/50 cash raffle was won by Tim Williams. The Ruger P95 pistol (courtesy of Challis LawDog P.C., Curt R. Thomsen) raffle was won by Doyle Lamb. The Remington Model 700, 300 Magnum rifle (courtesy of Sportsman Warehouse) raffle was won by Sarah Baker. The biggest prize of the night, the 2013 Hyde Contender Series Drift Boat was won by Sarah Baker.

Winner takes almost all:
Not only did Sarah Baker place Third in the Big Fish Contest, but she won the rifle and boat! “This is a phenomenal coincidence,” said chamber executive director Melissa Perkins Fitzgerald, “I was as shocked as anyone. She won a Trifecta!” She assures the propriety and integrity of these raffles is valid.

The Party is over but chamber continues…
The Steelhead Events (Derby & Ball) are the largest annual fundraising events for the Challis Area Chamber of Commerce. The chamber would like to thank the sponsors, local businesses and community for there support.

IDFG Steelhead Report #8

The Salmon Region IDFG Steelhead Report #8 was released this afternoon.

Fisheries Technician Brent Beller said, "This weekend on the upper Salmon River, the majority of anglers were found upstream of Clayton, in section 19, while very few anglers were observed fishing downstream of Elk Bend. Anglers in section 17 averaged 18 hours per steelhead caught, while in section 18, the average was 43 hours per steelhead."

Beller pointed out the weekend creel surveys showed "Anglers in section 19 also had a catch rate of 18 hours per steelhead with a total of 46 reported caught."

A total of 2,999 steelhead have been trapped at the Pahsimeroi Hatchery trap as of April 8th, and 1,378 steelhead have been trapped at the Sawtooth Hatchery trap as of April 4th.

Click on the graphic above for a larger, more readable version.

Bent Rod Steelhead Report #3

As the 2013 Challis Area Chamber of Commerce Steelhead Derby heads for its 5 pm April 6th finish line, Dustin Webster of The Bent Rod Outdoors reports, "As of right now the odds are 'supper good' to win a New Hyde Contender, as there are still quite a few boat tickets to be sold."

 "The Big fish Derby is anyone's game right now," Dustin said, noting "The entries we have pale in comparison to the fish of the last few years."

 "That being said its looking like a good time to be had at the Ball," Dustin added, "There's lots of Rods, Reels, and Full Combos that are up for Bid and raffle and we have a few firearms to raffle off as well. We're looking at having a good time for a good purpose."

"As for the fishing report, there is good news and bad," Dustin said. "Last Week the fishing was spotty at best. Our water has come up about a foot in the last few days and the water has some color to it but is still completely fishable with about two feet visibility," Dustin explained.

 "The Pahsimeroi hatchery received about a thousand fish last week so we should have some new blood in the area," Dustin observed.

208-879-2500

 "We are looking at a decent cold front pushing through the state that should stem any more run-off and let the river drop a little which should stall the fish and make for some decent fishing. Folks are still doing well with single egg paterns,Roe and drift fishing flies," Dustin concluded.

April 1st Salmon Snow & Streamflow Report

The monthly US NRCS "Basin Outlook Report" (BOR) was released late Thursday afternoon (April 4th).  Snow conditions and streamflow forecasts vary widely across the state.  Here's the meat of the BOR as it relates to The Salmon River:


WATER SUPPLY OUTLOOK
Dryness since January is starting to outweigh the wet start to the water year from October through December. October, November and December started off the water year with abundant moisture, by New Years the Salmon basin water year to date precipitation was 128% of average. Now after three months of below normal precipitation water year precipitation is less than normal at 94% of average. Basin wide March precipitation was 58% of average.

This year’s January–March period ranks as second driest at Deadwood Summit and Banner Summit and third driest at Vienna Mine, Mill Creek and Morgan Creek sites since SNOTEL records begin in the early 1980s. It’s a wonder that snowpack percentages are still 84% of median as of April 1, but keep in mind the shift to the 1981-2010 medians is inflating the percentage. This year’s snow would be 73% of average based on the 1971-2000 averages. To help put this year’s snow in perspective with recent history a snow index is very useful. A snow index sums the snow water inches at a group of stations to compare years. The snow index for the Middle Fork Salmon, which combines snow water at Banner Summit, Deadwood and Morgan Creek SNOTELs indicates that this April’s snowpack is less than last year, but better than other recent low years like 2010, 2007, 2005 and 2004. Years with slightly better snow were 2009 and 2002. Since snowpack correlates with streamflow this is a good way to judge runoff. Streamflow forecasts range from
77% of average for the Salmon at White Bird to 83% of average for the MF Salmon. Remember you can expect the MF Salmon River’s snowmelt peak to occur when Banner Summit is half melted. Banner Summit only has 20 inches of snow water and could still accumulate a little more snow. Keep watching this site’s snow water to determine this year’s half-melt value. It will provide a clue as to when the snowmelt driven peak flow is past.

The Statewide Recreational Forecast is below the graphic.  The complete report is embedded at the end of this article.

RECREATION
With the onset of warm temperatures in early April, the rivers are now rising across the state. Winter’s
colder than normal temperatures kept the meager mid-elevation snowpack in place but it is now
melting to produce the early April flow increase. The Owyhee River had its snowmelt peak flow of
3,000 cfs for several days last month. It will rise again, but only with additional rains. The Bruneau
basin has a little more snow than last year, but don’t expect a much longer season unless it rains. Last
year the Bruneau River near Hot Springs was only above 800 cfs a handful of days. The MF Salmon
River is already at 3 feet, 2,100 cfs and will have a moderate season with moderate peaks, provided it
doesn’t rain. With the Salmon River at White Bird forecast at 77% of average, the main Salmon will still
have a good season without the potential for extended high flows. With the snow at 90% of median in
the Locsha and Selway basins, expect ideal river running opportunities as the streams are also
predicted at near average. The Payette snowpack and reservoirs will provide ideal flow levels through
the summer on the Payette. Additional snowmelt-streamflow relationship information is available on
the Idaho Peak Streamflow Resources internet page. Know your boating skill limits, and be sure to
watch the changing spring weather for more climatic variability extremes that may affect the melt
rates during the snowmelt season and produce sudden increases in flows.

Click here to download the document:
http://issuu.com/johnrobertparsons/docs/borid413?mode=window

Many Thanks to the US NRCS, the Idaho Snow Survey Staff and especially Ron Abramovich, Water Supply Specialist, for providing our readers with this information on such a timely basis!

Photo of The Week #3

Sarah Baker caught this beautiful hen steelhead between Watts Bridge and Cottonwood.

IDFG Steelhead Report #7

Weekend creel surveys once again depicted The Salmon River above The East Fork to be the most productive fishing. Seventy-four anglers checked caught a total of 48 fish, 17 more than the combined total of fish caught in all other sections surveyed over the weekend.  In last weekend's report, 66 anglers checked in Section 19 caught 43 fish.

Weekend data indicates Section 17 (Lemhi River to Pahsimeroi River) had the heaviest fishing pressure with 177 anglers checked.

Brent Beller

According to Brent Beller, IDFG Salmon Region Fisheries Technician, "This weekend on the upper Salmon River, the majority of anglers were found either around the confluence of the Pahsimeroi River or further upstream, near the mouth of the Yankee Fork."

Beller noted, "Compared to the weekend before, the fishing was erratic with the catch rates varying greatly between river sections.  No steelhead were reported caught in section 14, and in section 15, anglers averaged 55 hours per steelhead. Section 16 had the best catch rate of the weekend at 7 hours per steelhead, but not many interviews were obtained due low angler pressure within the section."

"Upriver in sections 17 and 18, anglers averaged 43  and  124 hours per steelhead caught, respectively," Beller wnet on, adding, "Section 19 received the most angler pressure for the weekend and is where anglers caught the most steelhead. A total of 48 steelhead were reported caught, with anglers averaging 13 hours per steelhead."

Click on the graphic above to see a larger, more readable version