Drought May Have a Silver Lining

There just may be some unexpected good in this drought year, if everything comes together just right in a contingency plan to rebuild the fishery in Lake Cascade. Fish and Game has been meeting with state and federal agencies to determine under what conditions the populations of trout and perch could be rebuilt. Lake Cascade was an excellent yellow perch and rainbow trout fishery in the late 1970s, '80s and early '90s. It's estimated that over $7 million (2001 dollars) were generated by this fishery annually, contributing significantly to the local and Treasure Valley economies. Since that time annual angler expenditures have dropped sharply to $1.1 million due to the dramatic decline in the fishery in the mid 1990's. The question is "how do we get back to the good old days?" The answer may come easier because of the drought. Fish and Game has studied the disappearance of yellow perch since 1998. While it's difficult to look back and determine the cause of the disappearance, biologists believe that predation on yellow perch by northern pikeminnow or disease, or both, are responsible. Studies also indicate that regardless of the cause of the decline the large numbers of predatory northern pikeminnow presently in the lake has and will continue to prevent the recovery of the fishery. The answer could be to take advantage of the low water caused by the drought and further reduce the lake level, then treating any remaining water to eradicate the rest of the pikeminnows. "Nature gave us a bunch of lemons in the form of a drought," said Fish and Game Director Steve Huffaker, "but if everything works out just right, we could make lemonade. We've got to figure out how to do this with no loss of irrigation and no long- term water quality problems. We are looking for ways to make the best use of every drop of water and to reach the lowest possible pool by about Nov. 1, if possible. Depending on how much of a pool is left, most of the fish will be flushed into the Payette river. If there is a large pool, the remaining water might be treated with a fish toxicant. We would stock trout and perch the next spring and have a good trout fishery that year. Because fish grow so fast in a renovated lake, we could have a trophy trout fishery starting in the second year and lasting five or six years. By then the perch fishery would be robust and things would get back to normal." In the past Lake Cascade was a year-round yellow perch fishery and was known for producing big trout and salmon. In the heyday of perch fishing, Lake Cascade was the most-fished body of water in Idaho. People camped and fished for perch and trout in the summer. When the ice was on in winter, anglers would auger holes in it for winter fishing. When ice melted away from the shore, they would fish from the bank for huge trout that cruised the shoreline. Governor Dirk Kempthorne has asked state and federal agencies to meet with Valley County residents and businesses in the area to determine the possibilities presented by the renovation idea. He wants an assessment of impacts to agriculture, the environment and the economy of Cascade and the surrounding communities. After all the interests are considered, a decision on whether to go forward will be made. That decision may not come until summer, but contingency planning needs to be done now.