Reed Gillespie Chapter reports on Boulder Creek Restoration
The Reed Gillespie Chapter of Trout Unlimited is actively involved in a community watershed stewardship project on Boulder Creek. Our project partners are Donnelly Elementary School, McCall-Donnelly High School, McCall Outdoor Science School, Valley Soil and Water Conservation District, Valley County Pathways, city of Donnelly, Idaho Fish and Game, the Payette National Forest and local landowners.
In 2010, over the course of several volunteer days, 1/2 mile of Boulder Creek was planted with riparian shrubs by 30 Idaho Fish and Game volunteer crew and Trout Unlimited Volunteers. A ¼ mile of creek was fenced off for livestock exclusion and a ¼ mile of nature trail will be completed in Spring 2011 by Valley County Pathways at a 7 acre site, recently donated to the city by the Hugh Fulton Family. Slightly upstream, Donnelly Elementary School 5th graders worked with hydrologist Ned Fowkes to design and construct a log grid stabilization structure on a severely eroding 100’ section of bank by their school. The students priced out supplies, contracted services, and completed the project under budget.
Donnelly 5th graders took part for a second year in a Trout in the Classroom project not only raising trout, but also studying the water quality in Boulder Creek by their school and upstream at a reference site. The students report their results annually to the Donnelly City Council. Their watershed stewardship efforts have made an impact in the community by engaging additional landowner participation in riparian restoration projects. Our chapter has provided technical support and supplies for this project.
In 2011, another ½ mile of Boulder Creek will be planted and eroding banks stabilized with willow weavings. Valley County Pathways and TU are also planning a Story Trail to encourage use of the nature trail and provide a fun environmental education tool for families.
Funding for these efforts was received from the Whittenberger Foundation, DEQ 319 funds, Lightfoot Foundation, New Belgium Brewing, Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation, Idaho Power, and the American Fisheries Society.
