Unique opportunity on Deer Creek

The Beaver Creek Fire, sparked by lightening on August 7, 2013, burned 115,000 acres of national forest land, including 69% of the Deer Creek drainage northwest of Hailey, ID. Severe rains in September triggered debris flows and mudslides, clogging Deer Creek with sediment, damming the natural river channel,  and, for a short time, choking out aquatic life.

 

Only three week prior to the Beaver Creek Fire, the U.S. Forest Service had completed an environmental assessment of the Deer Creek watershed, and begun development of an integrated watershed restoration plan designed to improve forest health, enhance wildlife and fish habitat, reduce the potential for uncharacteristic fire behavior, and provide sustainable recreation opportunities.

 

The environmental analysis conducted in Deer Creek by the U.S. Forest Service in 2012 and 2013 provides a unique perspective and opportunity for monitoring effectiveness of restoration work. Because NEPA analysis was completed prior to the Beaver Creek fire, we now have extensive baseline data to draw from. 

 

 

Trout Unlimited will acquire funding and coordinate work with the U.S. Forest Service to implement restoration plans in the drainage. Restoration work planned even before the fire includes: relocation of several campsites to upland locations; improvements to the day—use area to reduce riparian impacts; and relocation of some trails out of the riparian zone.  Following the fire, the U.S. Forest Service also identified the need to remove a segment of road from the floodplain in order to restore floodplain functions; riparian restoration, including revegetation and installation of large woody debris to capture and store sediment in the riparian zone, stream channel restoration and floodplain reconnection, and reintroduction of beavers to facilitate passive restoration.

 

Finally, fish passage to a one-mile section of the North Fork Deer Creek will be facilitated by replacing a culvert that was damaged during the fire and currently restricts fish passage. Restoration work will be carried out in stages and work will likely continue in this drainage for the next couple of years.