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 SHORELINE RESTORATION PROJECT AT HENRYS LAKE TO BENEFIT THE FISHERY, BIRDS AND WILDLIFE 



Mary Van Fleet and Nancy Olson of Island Park trimming willow stakes for planting. Photo Credit Tracy River


Volunteers plant willows on eroded lakeshore . Photo credit Tracy Rivers

 Island Park, Idaho, May 28, 2022 — Volunteers from Henrys Fork Wildlife Alliance, Henrys Lake Foundation, and Idaho Master Naturalists worked a total of 70 hours over three days in May alongside staff from the Bureau of Land Management-Upper Snake Field Office. The project, supported by volunteer labor, was conducted by BLM to restore a badly eroded section of the west shore of Henrys Lake. 

Continuing an ambitious multi-year project that started last year, they planted more than 1,000 dormant willow stakes, collected from nearby vigorous willow stands along the lake. The stakes are expected to leaf out and take root this summer and eventually help restore the natural willow growth along the shore, improve shoreline stability, and benefit water quality. 

Mary Van Fleet of Island Park, who helped recruit many of the local volunteers, says “Planting dormant willow sticks right at the edge of an eroding bank and into the shoreline helps protect the shoreline from erosion that occurs during wave action in wind events. It also protects the shoreline from ice surge during the winter which deteriorates the bank.” 

She says stabilization of the banks is extremely important to reduce siltation in the lake and contribute to water quality for fish and anglers. It also provides excellent habitat for moose which utilize the willows as a food source, along with various birds and other wildlife species. 

Van Fleet says, “in addition to benefiting elk, moose, and other wildlife, willow bottoms around the Lake are important habitat for many species of birds, both songbirds and waterfowl, as a food source, protection, and nesting areas.” 

Ryan Beatty, Fisheries Biologist with BLM, was the lead for planning the shoreline restoration project and expressed his appreciation for all the volunteers who conducted the work. “Many hands make light work, and this effort would not have been possible without the contributions of volunteers.” He says, “Patience and a little luck should lead to substantial increases in shoreline willow density, shoreline stability and reduced shoreline erosion in the future.” 

Beatty also encourages landowners to retain natural vegetation during property development and maintenance of their land. He says planting inexpensive native vegetation-based enhancements to lakeshore properties can preserve the lakeshore and attract wildlife. 

For more information contact Mary Van Fleet at 208-558-9127 

Jean Bjerke 

President 

Henrys Fork Wildlife Alliance 

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Idaho Fish and Game Upper Snake Region Newsletter

The South Fork Snake River (SFSR) supports the strongest remaining fluvial population of native Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Ocorhynchus clarkii bouvieri (YCT) within their historical range in Idaho. The SFSR is one of only a handful of large rivers in the species’ range that supports a robust population of YCT. The primary goal for the SFSR, as directed by the public and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) Commission, is the preservation of the genetic integrity and population viability of YCT.

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People weigh-in on more fishing opportunity at Henrys Lake

Public input shows support for increased angling opportunity at Henrys Lake. Read article from Idaho Fish and Game, Upper Snake Region

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HENRYS LAKE SEES MORE SHORELINE RESTORATION COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS

ISLAND PARK, Idaho – This has been a busy and productive year for a portion of Henrys Lake managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Wildlife, residents, and anglers in southeast Idaho will all benefit from ongoing collaborative efforts to restore the western Henrys Lake shorelines and improve lake water quality.  …Read More

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Idaho Fish and Game-Henrys Lake Newsletter-October 2021

Quarterly Newsletter by Jen Vincent, Regional Fisheries Biologist

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Volunteer Opportunity

 BLM will be doing some planting of containerized shrubs on the west side of Henrys Lake this fall. This is likely to occur during the last two weeks of October. Any members who will be here during that time and would like to volunteer, they can contact Mary VanFleet 925 323 9953 or at parmerv@myidahomail.com . I don’t have details yet but will be taking contacts from interested folks and reaching out to them when BLM has a schedule.

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Rainbow Trout Population in the Box Canyon Remains Strong

Despite low flows in mid-May, Fish and Game biologists were still able to conduct their 25th population estimate in the Box Canyon reach of the Henrys Fork Snake River. This estimate is conducted in May on an annual basis and extends from the confluence with the Buffalo River downstream about 2.5 miles. Based on our long-term dataset extending back to 1994, the population estimate in Box Canyon this year (4,209 RBT/mile) is among the top 5 highest on record. 

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COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS RESULT IN RESTORATION OF HENRYS LAKE SHORELINE

ISLAND PARK, Idaho – Wildlife, residents, and anglers in southeast Idaho will all benefit from collaborative efforts to restore the Henrys Lake shorelines and improve lake water quality.  

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Preliminary results from the 2021 spring suppression effort on rainbow trout in the South Fork Snake River

As scheduled, Fish and Game staff completed 24 days of electrofishing from April 19 through May 27. We maintained our plan by shocking Monday through Thursday at four reaches described in Table 1. We typically launched the electrofishing boats by 8:30 a.m. and concluded daily removals by 3:00 p.m., though we started later (10:00 a.m.) on Mondays to avoid crowding with boat anglers below Palisades Dam.

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April (2nd edition)of the Upper Snake Region Monthly Fisheries Newsletter

As promised, here is another edition of our Regional Fisheries Newsletter this month. There will be more to come, so stay tuned! For this article, we are sticking with the South Fork Snake River and focusing on trout genetics.