Henry's Fork FoundationMARCH 2015

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Upcoming Events

 

Boise Reception

Friday, March 27

Stueckle Sky Center

Bronco Stadium, Bronco Lane Boise, Idaho

6-9 PM

$50 person

 

R&R Raffle

Prize Drawing
Monday, May 11

 

Henry's Fork Days

Friday, June 19, and

Saturday, June 20

Angler's Access
Last Chance, Idaho
 

 

San Francisco Reception

Fall Board Meeting

Friday, November 6

San Francisco, California

 

HFF Executive Director Brandon Hoffner displays a catch during his trip to Rainbow King Lodge in Alaska last August. Rainbow King Lodge has donated multiple trips that have been auctioned off to raise money for the Foundation's research and restoration projects. Brandon, along with HFF Conservation Fund Director Brady Taylor and six other Foundation members, made the 2014 trip. Members will get the chance to bid on a July 2016 trip at the Henry's Fork Day auction June 20.

Water Outlook Not as Good as It Once Was

Despite high levels in the upper Snake River Reservoir system, seven weeks of warm, dry weather have greatly reduced the amount of water forecast to run off into rivers and streams this spring. Snow water equivalent at key sites in the upper Henry's Fork basin ranges from less than 50 percent of average to about 75 percent of average, with no major precipitation in the forecast. Accordingly, outflow from Island Park Reservoir will be held at its current level of 275 cfs until the reservoir fills, probably sometime in mid- to late-April. After that, outflow will be adjusted to match inflow, to keep the reservoir full and avoid the need to reduce flows later in the spring. At this point, flow out of Island Park Dam during May and June is expected to range from 600 to 900 cfs.

 

Another consequence of the warm, dry weather was an abrupt end to state-authorized aquifer recharge upstream of American Falls Reservoir. In mid-February, water-rights priorities and favorable water-supply conditions allowed diversion from the Henry's Fork and South Fork to contribute to recharge of the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer. However, as of March 5, deteriorating water-supply conditions put an end to upper-valley recharge. Fremont-Madison Irrigation District diverted 170 cfs from the Henry's Fork near St. Anthony over the 17-day period, resulting in recharge of about 5,700 acre-feet. Downstream of American Falls, recharge began back in November and will continue until irrigation season begins.

Congratulations to Our Facebook Contest Winners:

HFF Simms Fleece and Beanie: Jennifer Amen

Simms Dry Creek Backpack and Fly Fishing Books: Brittany Reece

Grand Prize - Sage One Rod and Matching Reel Plus Day of Fishing with HFF: Palen Potter
 
And thank you to the hundreds of entrants who spread the word by liking us on Facebook and sharing the information with their Facebook friends.

IDFG Begins Fishing Regulation Update Process

Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) recently began its process for updating fishing regulations. Changes to the current regulations being considered for the Henry's Fork include reducing the daily bag limit downstream of St. Anthony from six trout to two trout, removing the 16-inch size limit in sections where the two-fish limit currently applies, and opening the reach from Ashton Dam to Vernon Bridge to fishing from December 1 to Memorial Day weekend.

 

Updating fishing regulations is done once every three years, starting with a series of informal scoping sessions and solicitation of general public input. After the scoping phase, IDFG will develop a formal proposal for modifications to the current regulations and present this proposal to the public in June. The public will have a second opportunity for input at that time.

 

Public comment during the scoping phase is open until March 22. Comments can be submitted via a link on the IDFG web site at https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/content/public-involvement 

Long-time Member John Oakes Passes Away in California

John P. Oakes of Redwood City, CA., a member of the Henry's Fork Foundation since 1994, died Feb. 18, 2015, at the age of 79. In recent years, John had become certified as an Idaho Master Naturalist and spent many volunteer hours of service to the Foundation and the Island Park community. John was awarded the Foundation's Volunteer of the Year award in 2010 in recognition of his generous support of HFF through his volunteer work. You can read about John's life by logging on to: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/mercurynews/obituary.aspx?pid=174207178 

Watch for the R&R Raffle announcement of prizes

Details will be announced by the end of the week for our R&R Raffle. We have a spectacular lineup of prizes for this year's research and restoration fundraiser for programs of the Henry's Fork Foundation aimed at conserving and protecting the wild trout fishery. We will post details of the raffle on our website at http://henrysfork.org, on Facebook, and on Twitter. Join us online for the latest and greatest news.  

Moving Water 2015 Poster Now AvailableDave Hall's latest Moving Water poster is now available through the Henry's Fork Foundation.
Following the success of Dave Hall's 2014 Moving Water poster supporting the Henry's Fork Foundation, the 2015 edition is now available at MovingWater.org.
 
The new 24x24 inch poster ($29.95 plus S/H) is printed from Dave's original oil painting Early Morning on the Upper Henry's Fork and is subtitled "If you're lucky, there are places you go back to."

 

All profits support the conservation efforts of the Henry's Fork Foundation.