westbranch
Well-known member
A friend that is very involved in fly fishing and related conservation projects forwarded me this petition. Hard to see the downside of improving the water temp for fish in the Priest River and bringing another trout fishing location in the Panhandle. With increased pressure on other rivers in North Idaho this should help spread out fly fisherman. There are private property groups that have become more vocal against the cold water bypass in the past year saying it is a private property rights issue. Some of them are saying that Priest River was never a cold water fishery, but the cutthroat and bull trout fishery of the 50s/60s seems to discount that narrative. I see people commenting on FB that they should excavate the river to create deeper cold water pools and other wild ideas. It is also being linked to the "connectivity agenda" of Y2Y and other conservation groups. So some of the same private property groups that come out were against the US 20 wildlife overpass in Island Park.
Due to this opposition there was a petition started in support of the bypass. If you are so inclined, please sign the petition:
www.priestriverproject.org
Link to IDFG presentation:
Due to this opposition there was a petition started in support of the bypass. If you are so inclined, please sign the petition:
Priest River Cold Water Bypass Restoration Project
Providing science and resources in support of the cold water bypass on the Priest River. Restoring the river and preserving the fishery.
www.priestriverproject.org
Link to IDFG presentation:
