NEWS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Flood #10 contact: Mark Zirschky, District Manager, 208-861-2766
Media contact: Steve Stuebner, 208-484-0295, steve.stuebner@brfcd10
BOISE – (Jan. 27, 2025) – Last summer, high winds blew a mature cottonwood tree into the Boise River, west of the Glenwood Bridge, blocking a portion of the Boise River channel. Concerned about obstruction of the river and safety, Boise River Flood Control District #10 anchored the tree against the river bank temporarily with a cable so it could work on it later during the 2024-2025 winter maintenance season.
In thinking about a long-term solution, Mark Zirschky, District Manager for Flood #10, conferred by Troy Pearse with the Boise Valley Fly Fishers (BVFF) and Art Butts with Idaho Fish and Game, about potentially anchoring the tree in place, adjacent to the south bank, to enhance trout habitat and bank stability.
Zirschky noticed how the tree and its branches were deflecting water flows away from the riverbank, similar to how a professional engineer might design a “bank barb” with rock riprap and woody materials to do the same thing. He saw benefits in leaving the tree in place for streambank protection, private/public property benefits and fish.
“This appeared to be a situation where we could do something that’s relatively quick and easy to have a long-lasting effect for bank stability, protection of private property and improve fish habitat,” he said. “The streambank in this area is very narrow, and it’s right next to the Greenbelt. Any bank erosion here could undermine the popular pathway and cause damage.”
Zirschky worked with the Idaho Department of Water Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to modify Flood #10’s winter maintenance permit to include the option of re-purposing trees that fall into the river and anchor them against the streambank for multiple purposes. Previously, Flood #10 had to either remove hazard trees or burn them, under its stream-alteration permit.
Today, Ezekial Willard, owner of Idaho Tree Preservation, a professional arborist service in Boise, anchored the cottonwood in place on the south bank to ensure it remains in place. Willard is a member of BVFF and was happy to help. BVFF paid for their services. When other trees drop into the river, they will look for opportunities to preserve them, depending on the circumstances.
“We see this project as a continuation of the work we’re doing in partnership with Flood #10 to do our part to enhance the Boise River,” said Troy Pearse, conservation director for BVFF.
BVFF also has been marking brown trout redds from Willow Lane Park to Star in the Boise River to let Flood #10 contractors know the locations and prevent damage to the fish nests during the winter maintenance season.
“We were glad to see that the permitting agencies were excited about re-purposing woody materials to protect the streambank and enhance fish habitat,” Pearse said.
Now, Flood #10 will watch for additional opportunities to preserve trees that fall into the river and re-purpose them to enhance streambank protection, protect private/public property, and improve fish habitat, Zirschky said.
“It’s a pretty neat project,” he said. “It’s important for to us to do what we can to improve things on the Boise River as part of our maintenance activities. Our former Chairman Bill Clayton was an avid fly fisherman, and going back to the Boise River 2000 collaborative effort, we have recognized the need to manage the Boise River for multiple uses. This project opens the door for more work that should be a win-win-win situation for all concerned.”
“I am very impressed with the collaboration we have seen on this project, and we are very excited to utilize our experience as professional arborists to help improve the waterway, increase habitat and be part of this community effort,” Willard said. “I am also a fly fisher, so it is a perfect combination of things I am passionate about and a chance to give back to our local community. I am looking forward to doing more projects with this group of dedicated individuals to be stewards of our community spaces.”
Added Art Butts, Southwest Regional Fishery Manager for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, “Wood is essential to fish habitat in the Boise River. Not only does it provide direct cover and refuge from predators and flows, larger pieces of wood work with hydraulics to form pools and diversify the available habitat within the river.
“For a long time, wood has been removed from the Boise River almost as quickly as it fell in due to risk it might pose to infrastructure or safety for novice floaters,” Butts said. “IDFG started working with Flood Control District 10 over a decade ago to find opportunities where more wood could be left in the river. We are excited that these efforts are continuing and that more agencies, municipalities, and citizens are recognizing the importance of wood in the Boise River.”
BVFF’s funding for this project and other conservation projects comes from their annual Fly Fishing Expo, which is coming up at the end of January, with a wide array of fly fishing programs, fly tiers and vendors. More information can be found at the Expo Website. https://www.idahoflyfishingexpo.com/
For more information, contact Mark Zirschky, 208-861-2766, or go to boiseriver.org.
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Willard anchored the tree in place with a super strong cord. It’s set up for the downed tree to rise with river flow in the spring but remain in place.