History of Payette River WMA
History
In the early 1800s, Francis Payette, an explorer/trapper with the Hudson’s Bay Company established Fort Boise on the banks of the Snake River some 16 miles southwest of New Plymouth. On a subsequent outing in search of beaver, he followed the Snake River north, only to discover a large, unnamed river spilling into the Snake. By naming this wandering river after himself, Francis Payette secured his place in western U.S. exploration history.
Abundant wildlife and mild winter temperatures attracted a number of Indian tribes to this region. Nez Perce, Bannock, and Shoshoni Indians converged on the Payette River and its drainages to reap the plentiful wildlife bounty found here. Spawning salmon, sage-grouse, ducks, geese, and large mammals, including mule deer and antelope, were all abundant in or near the waters of the Payette River and were harvested throughout the year to sustain these tribes.
Payette River WMA’s Birding Islands segment consists of a scattered group of islands and a series of land parcels along the Payette River. These riparian areas are rich in water and wildlife values and consist primarily of cottonwood, locust trees, willow, sedges, rushes, and cattails.
Transition areas between riparian and upland habitats consist of greasewood and saltgrass. The slightly raised, upland terraces are comprised of sagebrush, rabbitbrush, bitterbrush, and a variety of grasses are present. Dense nesting cover and/or wildlife food plots are found in some upland areas.
The Payette River is a meandering waterway, with numerous side channels, oxbows, and sloughs - features which enhance the wildlife values of the river and the WMA. The river flows west out of the Birding Islands complex at an elevation of 2,230 feet, just 130 feet lower than the WMA’s highest point. Beyond the river’s north bank, a weather-worn bluff adds the only topographic relief to the immediate area.
Annual precipitation averages just 10 inches, with one-half of that falling during the 140- to 160- day growing season. Summers are warm and dry with temperatures seldom exceeding 100 F, and winters are cool and moist. The region receives minimal snowfall, which rarely remains for long.
Healthy riparian (streamside) areas, with their hiding cover and food plots are critical wildlife habitat components. The Payette River’s riparian habitat supports hundreds of wildlife species.
Payette River WMA Birding Islands segment is managed primarily to benefit waterfowl. While Canada goose nesting success has always been high, managers also work to increase fledging success (the number of goslings reaching flight stage). More than 100 goose nesting platforms on the Payette River WMA help maintain high nesting success, and the construction of nine brood ponds and their associated nesting islands has further boosted nesting success while increasing gosling survival rates.
Hundreds of geese nest in and around Payette River WMA, as do mallards, gadwalls, northern pintails, American widgeon, green-winged and cinnamon teal, lesser scaup, redheads, and wood ducks. White-fronted and snow geese, together with other waterfowl species use the area during spring and fall migration.
More than 200 acres of Payette River WMA have been developed as nesting cover habitat for waterfowl and upland game birds. These thick, dense plots of undisturbed residual nesting cover help birds to successfully hatch a clutch. Many wildlife species benefit from the hiding, nesting, and winter habitats provided by these cover plots. Tree and shrub stands were planted to provide additional habitat diversity and escape cover for wildlife. English oak, rocky mountain juniper, scotch pine, native plum, chokecherry, serviceberry, and Nanking cherry make up these cover plantings; many of them also produce food for wildlife.