PICABO, IDAHO — Silver Creek has long been recognized as one of the finest spring creeks in the country. A new enhancement plan seeks to make it even better.

The Nature Conservancy has announced that it will work with Ecosystem Sciences, a non-profit Boise-based consulting firm, to develop a comprehensive plan to restore stretches of Silver Creek and its tributaries that need most help, and to use the restoration methods that will have the most conservation benefit. The effort will result in habitat projects that benefit the fishery as well as many wildlife species. "The goal of this project is to improve the fish and wildlife habitat on a watershed level at Silver Creek, and to make it the most resilient it can be for the long term," says Dayna Gross, the Conservancy’s Silver Creek Preserve manager.

Ecosystem Sciences will create a comprehensive, integrated watershed plan for the creek by examining the entire watershed, including tributaries and all land and water uses. "We are so pleased to be working with a firm that takes a holistic view of the entire watershed," says Gross. "We believe this offers an incredible future for Silver Creek."

The enhancement effort at Silver Creek will address increased water temperature, as well as sediment loading. Increased water temperatures have contributed to fish kills in years when less water is in the stream.

For the past 35 years, Silver Creek has been a successful conservation project due to community support. The enhancement plan will likewise be driven by community involvement, with a series of public meetings to gather input from stakeholders. The public is invited and encouraged to attend and participate. The first meeting will be at noon March 25 at the Picabo General Store. A complete meeting schedule follows.

Scientists at the Spring Creek Summit in 2008

Commonly asked questions

1.) How does this differ from the many other studies at Silver Creek?

This is not a study. Ecosystem Sciences foundation will be assimilating all of the existing data and studies into a comprehensive plan—a plan that improves habitat for Silver Creek. Areas needing enhancement will be identified based largely on existing information. Impacts upstream and downstream of these priorities will be identified, integrated, and accounted for in the plan. The idea is that we provide a tool for people to conduct enhancement projects TOGETHER and that it begins a cycle of FUNDING. Now that we will have a watershed plan, acquiring federal and state funding should be much more efficient.

2.) How will the plan be completed?

From Ecosystem Sciences website: "Management of watersheds and water resources is often an "unintentional" system that evolved over time from overlapping jurisdictions, contradictory goals, and competing needs within and between watersheds. Sorting these inefficient and archaic systems to restore intelligent watershed and water resource management is achieved through integrated planning. We develop integrated regional watershed management plans through a step-wise process beginning with stakeholder input, assimilation of existing data and watershed plans, identification of key watershed issues, determination of appropriate solutions, and GAP analysis to cover watershed areas and issues not addressed in existing plans. The completed IRWM plan stitches together and integrates existing plans into seamless management actions based on common goals and objectives."

As a first step in this process, we will be assimilating existing data and gathering public input.

3.) How can I be involved and give my input?

Currently, meetings are scheduled for:

Early May t.b.a.

You can also call Dayna at 788-7910 or email dayna_gross@tnc.org for direct input. Check the project blog (tba) for updates and public discussion.

4.) Do private landowners have to follow the plan?