Utard films herself being gored by bison

Come on People. The N.P.'s are filled with WILD, NATIVE creatures. They don't need us harassing them. You get what you deserve when you throw sticks at them.

TU in Race to Protect Idaho's Teton River

Date: 06/09/2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Kim G. Trotter, (208) 552-0891 x 712
Randy Scholfield, (720) 375-3961

TU in Race to Protect Idaho's Teton River

Conservation group participates in Teton Dam marathon to raise awareness of dam threat

(Rexburg) –Trout Unlimited is joining the Teton Dam marathon, one of Eastern Idaho's premier events, to raise awareness about the natural resources of the 17-mile wild canyon, which it calls a "hidden gem" that is in danger of being inundated by a new dam and reservoir.

The annual race near Rexburg, which draws some 1,300 runners from across the nation, commemorates the Teton Dam disaster and the Rexburg community's relief efforts. The dam collapsed in 1976, killing 11 and causing more than $1 billion in damage.

The race, which begins near the old dam ruins, is also an opportunity to celebrate the Teton Canyon's natural resources, said Kim Trotter, TU's Idaho Water Project director. The conservation group, one of the sponsors of the event, is hosting an educational booth about the canyon's resources at the finish line Expo and is also entering a relay team.

"A lot of Idahoans don't know about the incredible beauty and ecological significance of the Teton Canyon," she said. "It's a wonderful local resource that needs to be protected."

The canyon is one of the last strongholds of native Yellowstone cutthroat trout. And it provides an important refuge for trumpeter swans, bald eagles, and winter herds of mule deer and elk. The BLM is studying the canyon as a candidate for Wild and Scenic status.

The canyon provides economic benefits as well, Trotter noted. Several outfitters guide trips in the canyon, which attracts anglers, boaters and hunters who spend money in local restaurants, shops and hotels.

In 2009, the state of Idaho and Bureau of Reclamation launched plans to study rebuilding Teton Dam. After months of talks with TU and other conservation groups, the BOR announced in April that it would broaden the study to look at a range of options, including underground aquifer storage, municipal conservation and water system efficiencies.

TU calls that a step in the right direction.

"We're going to be monitoring this study closely," said Trotter. "Teton Dam doesn't make sense from an environmental or economic standpoint. There are better, win-win options for Eastern Idaho."

BOR will host the first of several Henry's Fork basin storage study meetings on Tue., June 15 at 8 a.m. at the Mountain View Inn in Rexburg. The meeting is open to the public. TU is urging local citizens to attend.

Trotter likened the study to a marathon. "It's a long, demanding process," she said. "But we're in this for the long haul, to make sure the study is done right."

"It's important the public understands what's going on and gets involved," added Trotter. "Idaho flooded this canyon once - let's not make the same mistake twice."

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Trout Unlimited is the nation's largest coldwater conservation organization, with 140,000 members dedicated to conserving, protecting, and restoring North America's trout and salmon fisheries and their watersheds.

Carp. Hanging with the Boys From The Hood.

With the inclement weather we've been receiving in the Tetons and GYE, there was nothing left to do but to get down and dirty with the boys from the hood. Carp!
After a few thousand casts between the three of us and switching flies a half a dozen times each, we couldn't figure it out.
They were swimming around our feet, but obviously not interested in what we presented.
So, we looked for different water. I think we even planned on taking off and heading to another location a few hours drive away at this point. Oh, did I mention that we had driven a few hours away from home already.
And then. There they were, hurling themselves out of the water, only to smack down once again. Taunting us.



In one final cast to the wind, no really, it was most certainly windy, BS brought in this Rocky Mountain Bone. This was a enjoyable warm water adventure to tide us over until the local rivers clear or our next carp outing. Hmmm. Maybe we'll do this carp thing again soon.

The Teton River named one of American's most endangered by American Rivers

The Teton River is named one of America's Most Endangered by American Rivers

Last week the Teton River was named one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers™ by American Rivers. For the past 25 years, American Rivers has released its "Most Endangered Rivers" report to spotlight the nation’s ten most imperiled rivers. The Teton River has been selected due to the Bureau of Reclamation's "Henry’s Fork Basin Special Water Study"
to explore the rebuilding of the Teton Dam and other water supply and optimization options, and because there is a “major decision that the public can help influence in the coming year."

The American Rivers designation is a call-to-action and emphasizes solutions for the rivers and their communities. A large part of the reason FTR has been so successful in its work in the upper Teton watershed is because of its dedication to working with diverse stakeholders to develop with creative, collaborative solutions to habitat restoration, fish passage and water management. Using a blend of federal, state and private funding FTR has replaced failing diversion structures and installed fish screens, providing win-win solutions for irrigators and fish; has worked with farmers to establish cattle crossings, reduce sediment inputs and restore streambanks; and has established subwatershed stakeholder groups to address specific problems on tributary streams. FTR hopes that some of the lessons and collaborative relationships FTR has developed in the upper Teton watershed can be applied in the Henry’s Fork Basin Special Water Study.

FTR recognizes that a dam on the lower Teton River could have significant impacts on restoration of Yellowstone cutthroat trout in the entire watershed. FTR is encouraged by the Bureau of Reclamation’s recent decision to involve the public in the scoping process, to expand the study area to the entire Henry’s Fork Watershed, and to include not only a consideration of rebuilding a new dam on the Teton River, but alternative options such as water conservation and optimization, and a variety of off-stream storage options. FTR would like to strongly encourage the public to participate in the upcoming Henry’s Fork Basin Special Water Study to make sure all stakeholder interests are met. See how you can get involved in this process below.

For more information on America’s Most Endangered Rivers™ please visit the link below:

Snake River Flood Warning

The BofR has issued a flood warning for the upper Snake River.

BEWARE!

*river warning

Runoff. It's on. Finally!

It may be two - three weeks late, but here we go. Jackson Lake, which the Snake River near Flagg Ranch flows into before being released out of Jackson Lake Dam is currently at 92% of capacity. 

The Bureau of Reclamation recently announced that they will begin ramping up flows out of Jackson Lake Dam over the next three days, bringing it up from 400 cfs to 1400 cfs. This change in operations is sparked by a recent and dramatic upsurge in runoff above Jackson Lake.

On Monday, June 7th, B of R will make an assessment to determine if additional released are required. Either way, things are moving in the right direction for fishing up there. The higher the flows at JLD, the better.

Boots Allen,
Snake River Angler, report.

 Down in the Snake River Canyon, the runoff appears to be more than a month behind last years schedule. Don't forget that the past two winters brought record breaking numbers for snowpack totals. This season we're currently at 88% of snow water equivalent. That's up nearly 20% since early April. 

OK. Let's move on already from all the rain and give us some warmer temps for the fishing tournament.

Jackson Hole Bassmaster 2nd Annual Bass Tournament

Stay tuned for updates. 

5-Day Forecast for ZIP Code 83001

Customize Your Icons!

Friday	Saturday	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday
52° F | 40° F 11° C | 4° C	52° F | 40° F 11° C | 4° C	58° F | 43° F 14° C | 6° C	59° F | 40° F 15° C | 4° C	61° F | 40° F 16° C | 4° C
T-storms 80% chance of precipitation	T-storms 30% chance of precipitation	T-storms 40% chance of precipitation	T-storms 20% chance of precipitation	Partly Cloudy
Hourly	Hourly	Hourly	Hourly	Hourly

MidCurrent features yours truly. Kevin Emery. Fly Fishing Photographers.

FLY FISHING AND PHOTOGRAPHY belong together. After all, it's a sport based on observation, and few of us don't hold a scrapbook of fine images in our heads.

MidCurrent's Fly Fishing Photography section features artists who've fully drawn subtle connections between fly fishers, water, and light, and who've captured a sense of place.

Kevin S. Emery has a passion for photography that runs even deeper than his desire to cast streamers. As a photographer and international mountaineering and fishing guide, his assignments have taken him to remote locations in Antarctica, Greenland, India, and right to his home in the Tetons. Guiding for over 15 years has taught Kevin that you are never in control of a fleeting moment. "You have to seize that moment, capture it in a digital image, or settle for a mental one." The same can be said for his reckless abandon when wielding a six-weight with a sink-tip and a Zoo Cougar.

Bureau of Reclamation to Announce a New Approach toward the "Teton Dam" Study

Bureau of Reclamation to Announce a New Approach

toward the "Teton Dam" Study:

Public Invited to Meeting April 20th

Last year, the state of Idaho allocated $400,000 in matching funds for the BOR to study the feasibility of rebuilding the Teton Dam in the Teton River canyon, or building an off-channel dam at another location in the basin. After many strategic discussions with American Rivers, TU, and Idaho Rivers United about including cheaper, less environmentally damaging alternatives to the rebuilding of the Teton Dam, the BOR has developed a "Henrys Fork Special Study Framework" which will focus on conservation and changes in water management, as well as storage alternatives, using a collaborative stakeholder-driven approach.

The BOR plans to unveil its new strategy at the next meeting of the Henrys Fork Watershed Council on Tuesday, April 20th at the Mountain View Inn (formerly Best Western CottonTree) Conference Center in Rexburg . This meeting is open to the Public. For detailed schedule, click here to be directed to the HFWC website and click the "meeting schedule" tab at the top of the page.

Cross Your Fingers For A Cool, Wet Spring To Improve Water Supply Outlook for Teton Basin

Cross Your Fingers For A Cool, Wet Spring

To Improve Water Supply Outlook for Teton Basin

(NRCS News Release, April 6, 2010)

Snow survey data collected across Idaho by the Natural Resources Conservation Service indicate the late March storms brought little relief to Idaho's water supply outlook. The snow that fell in Idaho's mountains dropped between 1-4 inches of water content, but not enough to solve the water supply shortages that will occur in most drainages.

"A slow defrost is what we need to help salvage this year's water supply," said Ron Abramovich, Water Supply Specialist for NRCS. "A wet, cool spring would reduce and delay the irrigation demand, extending the limited water supply."

April 1 snowpacks across Idaho range from 50 to 75% of average. Snowpacks will reach their peaks within the next few weeks and runoff will begin. Cool temperatures would delay the snowmelt and spring moisture would decrease the early-season demand for irrigation water.

For the Upper Snake River Basin, including the Teton Basin and the Henry's Fork Basin, it has been one of the driest winters on record. March recorded just over half of the normal monthly precipitation putting the total precipitation since October 2009 at 61% of average. Reservoirs are storing as much as they can in this low snow year. "Water managers are storing as much water in reservoirs as they can but with the low snowpack there will likely be water supply shortages in some areas," Abramovich said. Streamflow forecasts range from 20 to 60% of average.

Click here for the full Upper Snake River/Teton Basin Water Supply Outlook.

Click here for the general summary for Idaho's Water Supply Outlook

View the full NRCS News Release;

GrIT Details: SCAT Field Work, Life

GrIT Details: SCAT Field Work, Life

The tiny black dots at four o'clock on the image are the SCAT's camp, to which they will return at day's end. All photos: Robin Davies

From: Kip Rithner
To: “Robin Davies”
Date: Tuesday, April 6, 2010, 2:33 PM

How’s it going out there in the wild?

What’s it like in that Tucker cab hour after hour? Do you listen to music or books on tape, talk about past and future exploits?

From: Robin Davies
To: “Kip Rithner”
Date: Wednesday, April 7, 2010, 4:55 AM

When we are covering new ground that we expect to have crevasses, quite a lot of the time, it’s a bit intense in the cab. Allan has to continually watch the GPR screen and can’t afford to be distracted, Jen is watching our progress overlaid on the satellite imagery and looking at surrounding features to tie them into what she sees on her laptop screen, and I’m concentrating on trying to drive as straight a course as possible with the GPS. At other times on easier ground or ground we have covered before, we talk, tell stories and laugh a lot. But no book reading and definitely no singing!

Yesterday we found our way through what we thought might have been an impenetrable barrier of crevasses and reached a point that’s on the old route that will become the new way point B9F. From there it’s a clear run to B10 and then a few minor crevasses to check out before we reach our goal of B11. Hopefully we’ll do that today.

On the way back to camp we widened that day’s section of the route and double-checked a few features Allan had seen on the GPR until he was happy and gave the route his approval. From there Kevin parked up his skidoo and joined us in the Tucker to boogie on back to camp at an exhilarating 10mph!

This is what the SCAT camp looks like. Each person has a tent like the one shown at left. Behind the orange tucker, the brown wannigan, various cargo items and the black outhouse.

After a long day, Jen Mercer helps Kevin Emery wash his hair while Allan Delaney looks on from inside the wannigan.

Robin explains, "Enjoying a meal cooked by Allan, Asian shrimp soup, after a successful day." This shot is taken inside the brown wannigan, but the SCAT sleeps outside in the tents.