River flows from the Island Park Dam were recently dropped to 170 cubic feet per second (cfs) to store more water in the reservoir, which is currently at 44 percent of capacity. This drop was agreed upon in last month's Drought Management Planning meeting between the Foundation, Idaho Fish and Game, the Bureau of Reclamation, and Fremont Madison Irrigation District.  

By reducing flows now, irrigators can be assured of an adequate amount of water for the next irrigation season, while allowing for increased flows in December and January when young rainbow trout need more water to survive. The Drought Management Planning group will reconvene in November to determine how much water can be released during the winter to allow for both the fishery and necessary irrigation storage capacity. The group considers reservoir inflow rates, storage space, and the projected weather outlook.   

Thanks to the incredible snowpack of the 2010-11 season, last year's winter river flows were higher than average, resulting in better survival for young rainbow trout and more fish in the Fork. Learn more about how we work with local agencies and irrigators to provide strategic winter river flows.