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Salmon River Valleys: Water for Farms and Fish

 

chinook salmon migration

A Place Salmon Would Die For

Each year, salmon return to the Pahsimeroi to breed, and die. Read more about how the Conservancy is protecting this special place, while keeping the land operating as a working ranch.

Water In the Lemhi

The Nature Conservancy and Idaho Department of Water Resources is finding a balance between fish and farms in the Lemhi River Valley.

Glenn Elzinga tends to cattle along the Pahsimeroi River

Salmon: A fish that, in many ways, is more than a fish. How else to explain this creature that has such a powerful place in Idaho history. Just the mention of salmon runs brings to mind Native American tribes, Lewis and Clark, the Oregon Trail. We wish we could see the days when salmon could be found in the Boise, the Owyhee, the Middle Snake rivers. And we are still inspired by the salmon that return, despite daunting odds, to reach their spawning grounds in Idaho year after year.

And yet: Salmon can also be viewed as controversial, as a fish taking vital from farms and ranches. A fish with the power to ruin rural economies and put people out of business.

The Nature Conservancy is working with partners, ranchers and others in the Salmon River Valleys on a new version of the old "fish versus farms" story. Our projects balance the needs of the fish with the needs of ranchers.

The tributaries of the Salmon River--such as the Lemhi and Pahsimeroi--are located in central Idaho. It's an area known for huge wilderness and vast public lands.

But salmon return to spawn in rivers that run through agricultural valleys.

Working with ranchers to keep their ranches in production while also protecting key habitat for salmon--as well as other native fish like steelhead, bull trout and cutthroat trout--offers a story of hope rather a story of division.

Pahsimeroi: A River Salmon Would Die For

In the Pahsimeroi River, the Conservancy purchased the Moen Ranch, located on a stretch of river that contains as many as 40% of the salmon spawning areas of the entire river. The Conservancy sold the river corridor to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, which will manage it as a public fishing and recreation area. The remainder of the ranch is being sold to an organic beef rancher (pictured above), who will protect salmon habitat as well as wildlife habitat in the sagebrush and upland habitat on the ranch's grazing allotments.

Lemhi: Water Conservation Agreements Achieve A Balance

The Lemhi River is vitally important for salmon and other migratory fish, but they could often not reach their spawning habitat due to ranchers needing to divert water for irrigation. Beyond an irrigation diversion called L-6, the water stopped flowing in the Lemhi, effectively drying the riverbed and cutting off fish migration. On this river , the Conservancy and the Idaho Department of Water Resources will partner with willing landowners to purchase permanent water conservation agreeements to ensure enough water flows over irrigation diversions so that fish can pass through on their way to spawning areas. When water is not needed to maintain flows, the rancher can still use the water.

Nature picture credits (left to right): Photo © Calvin College Spark(Rancher Glenn Elzinga, organic beef rancher on the Pahsimeroi Ranch); © Michael Wilhelm (migrating salmon).