Idaho's Willow Creek is Focus for Learning
by Cindy Deacon Williams, Pacific Rivers Council
| Because of the enthusiasm of high school teacher Pete Ridder, students at Camas County High School in Idaho know more than most about the ecological and social benefits of a functioning watershed as well as the threats which can degrade it. This fall, PRC secured funds from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation under the "Bring Back the Natives" Project for watershed restoration and education. PRC board member Hal McNee invited us to do a pilot project on the section of Willow Creek that runs through his land in south central Idaho. From there it has grown into a whole watershed project.
Pete Ridder and the students gathered information on the health of the creek. They collected aquatic invertebrates and fish to establish the diversity and distribution of species within the watershed. They evaluated riparian and channel condition and measured water quality. Their commitment and hard work has given the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and private property owners important base-line information about the condition of the watershed. As a result, the success of future efforts to improve livestock management and restore past damages (from cows, roads and mines) now can be measured. This was a community affair, with volunteers from the state departments of Fish and Game, and Environmental Quality, the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management as well as local consultants and experts pitching in to provide training and assistance. Local private landowners gave permission for the students to set up monitoring sites on their lands as did the Forest Service and the BLM. Some things were apparent to the students right away. First, more kinds of fish were caught lower in the watershed than in the headwaters demonstrating that although habitats often are in better condition at higher elevations, the ecological potential typically is higher on the valley floor. Second, bad roads and abandoned mines can dramatically reduce the number and kinds of aquatic species in affected tributary streams. Third, different critters really do have different niches so you shouldn't expect the same species in a riffle as in a pool. Fourth, beaver dams can back up amazing amounts of water in pools so deep you'll overtop your waders and get real wet! Because of the efforts of Pete Ridder and his students, the help of state and federal agencies, and the participation of local land owners, the Willow Creek Watershed Restoration and Education Project is off to a great start. Furthermore, they are going to do it all again next spring! And again in the fall and in the spring and... |
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