Black's Creek Reservoir Drained by Vandals

Black's Creek Reservoir, located just southeast of Boise, is now little more than a series of shallow puddles thanks to the thoughtless acts of vandals. In a normal water year - and with the end of irrigation season - the valve controlling water flow through Black's Creek Dam is closed, allowing the reservoir to refill and maintain a modest pool of water through the winter months. This allows for the survival of bass, bluegill, crappie and yellow perch populations, all of which are pursued by anglers in the summer and winter months. Sometime this summer, the mechanism used to regulate water flow through the dam was damaged by vandals; the damage was not discovered until workers from Pleasant Valley Irrigation Company went to close the outlet this fall. Jammed in the open position, the outlet continued to allow water to flow from Black's Creek Reservoir, quickly draining the water body. Unfortunately, Fish and Game staff was not notified of the situation until later. "By the time we became aware of the vandalism and the needed repairs, Black's Creek's fish population was lost," Fish and Game fisheries biologist Art Butts said. "The fishery will not be back on its feet for years now, as a result of this thoughtless act of vandalism by one or more individuals." The irrigation company hopes to have the needed repairs completed by the end of November, at which time Black's Creek Reservoir will slowly start to refill. If conditions allow, Fish and Game hopes to restock the reservoir next spring.