Fisheries Plan in Place in Case of Drought

Idaho Department of Fish and Game Department fisheries managers expect that the low snow pack will result in most irrigation reservoirs being emptied or going to minimum pool in the coming water year. The department noted that the potential energy and water crisis can result in loss of outstanding fisheries that have developed during the last five years with adequate water available for winter carryover. Hardest hit will be south Idaho. "Popular reservoirs will have good fishing in the spring and early summer but fish kills are likely in smaller reservoirs as the levels drop and temperatures increase. We are prepared to take emergency action as needed to drop limits to allow anglers to salvage as many fish as possible," Fish and Game Director Rod Sando said. "We will put additional emphasis on keeping anglers informed of fishing conditions on reservoirs and will stop stocking in waters expected to go dry. We estimate that it will take two years or more for the fisheries in these reservoirs to recover after we get refill and carryover water. However, we will adjust hatchery stocking to these reservoirs, using as many catchable-sized trout in 2002 as possible to provide some continued fishing opportunities." Department scientists expect the drought to result in reduced sport fishing and its economic benefits in the fall of 2001 and 2002. Sportfish in Idaho provided $280 million in angler expenditure, supporting 6,884 jobs and providing $18.6 million in state tax revenue in 1999. During the drought period in the late 1980s and early 1990s, fishing license sales in Idaho declined. Since 1995 license sales have been increasing as fisheries have improved with good water years, especially in reservoirs. "This is the third lowest snow pack in the Columbia Basin record and is expected to produce flows similar to 1977. Survival of wild chinook and steelhead smolts migrating to the ocean is expected to be very poor. As many as 1/3 of the smolts may not make it through Lower Granite Reservoir to collection facilities due to lack of water. This will affect the adult returns of both wild and hatchery fish in 2003 and 2004", Sando said. "However, the adult hatchery 2001 chinook run looks very good and water conditions are not expected to affect this. Fishing conditions should be very good for harvesting these record runs due to low run off and fishability of streams during May through July." In addition to fisheries efforts, the department has energy conservation committees at every facility developing activities to reduce electrical use and their efforts will include the items included in the Governor's executive order on energy conservation efforts within state government. Activities currently include lighting, heating, air conditioning, computer operations, and efforts to enhance insulation around doors and windows. In addition, the use of geothermal heating is being evaluated for the Boise headquarters office.