NOVEMBER TOWN HALL
On November 7, The Idaho Legislative Sportsmen Caucus held its monthly town hall facilitated by Idaho Sportsmen and the Congressional Sportsmen Foundation. The meeting focused on quagga mussel updates and updates from state natural resource departments. Benn Brocksome, Executive Director of Idaho Sportsmen, discussed Election Day, with many municipal seats up with heavy competition throughout the state. He also mentioned how JFAC is meeting November 8-10 to hear budget updates and share the new budget process that will proceed following the beginning of the legislative session.
Mike Edmondson, Administrator of the Office of Species Conservation (OSC), said nothing new is happening with grizzly bears. He was going to dive right into quagga mussels. The Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) led the fight against quagga mussels, but they could not attend the meeting. He wanted to accredit Chanel Tewalt, Director of ISDA, for her excellent guidance, and along with her team, on their efficiency in responding to the finding of quagga mussels and executing a response within two weeks. Administrator Edmondson expressed their response to the invasive species was the quickest there has ever been and hopes that it remains successful. Within ninety-six (96) hours, three (3) sections were treated along the river. The chemicals used in the infected areas were maintained and monitored. In the upper snake, an adult quagga mussel was captured, and when they tested it with the treatment, it died quickly. The question is whether all the adults are dead because a mussel cannot reproduce independently. Administrator Edmondson also mentioned that with the weather changing and the water getting cooler, mussels can’t reproduce in water below fifty-nine (59) degrees Fahrenheit until the water starts warming up again in late spring.
In the meantime, the state team is monitoring options, and one approach is looking at using another chemical that has been tested and only affects quagga mussels. It can be applied to the river, and the mussels will take it in and die. ISDA must decide If they want to take the next step and use the new chemical to ensure no quagga mussels are in the river. The challenge of the infestation in the river is it is a continued flow and is hard to control and treat. Administrator Edmonson mentioned a Colorado lake with no moving stream of water that took six years to locate and respond to, while it only took Idaho two weeks to find and respond to the quagga mussels in the river. Mr. Brocksome wanted clarification on when people could get back in the water. Jim Fredricks, Director of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG), shared they have closed everything off in that area, not only the river but any access nearby, to prevent any confusion, fishing, hunting, trapping, and others were all closed.
Following the treatment, hunting, fishing, and trapping were opened below Shoshone Falls standpoint, but fishing has not opened yet. Regarding a fishery response, they were monitoring before, during, and post-treatment. As this chemical treatment hadn’t been detected before, they were unsure of the outcomes that were going to occur. Director Fredricks shared that they saw a lot of mortality in multiple types of fish. There was a population test done by Idaho Power last year where they calculated fifty (50) sturgeon. Director Fredricks shared the devastating news that they have found forty- eight (48) dead, ranging up to eight (8) feet long and thirty (30) years old. Meaning the sturgeon population no longer exists in this area. This doesn’t mean it can’t be restored, but it can’t happen overnight. They can bring in sturgeon from fish hatcheries, restocked from irrigation canals, or relocated from below Minidoka dam and prioritize replenishing this area. Along with the mortality of the fish, there is concern about whether the ones still swimming would be safe to catch and eat for birds and people. Director Fredricks shared that it was safe, and there was no infection in the fish that would then spread.
Representative Burns (D-26) asked if there was any ongoing discussion with the wash stations and to ensure that anyone with any water equipment takes the necessary precautions. Director Fredricks let him know the conversations are being had on the field. Aoibheann Cline, Idaho Sportsmen Board Member, asked if they could trace back to where or how the infection began. Director Fredricks replied he didn’t want to entertain the rumors and that the issue was being resolved.
Director Fredricks moved on to other updates from IDFG. He shared information on the antler-gathering response they received as they opened public comment. The responses indicated that both areas to be closed during the winter to prevent any more casualties than what the big game experiences with the winters and harsh weather. Director Fredricks said they are presenting to the Fish and Game Commission next week to see if they would want to take action on the season. Idaho Houndsmen and East Idaho Houndsmen groups expressed their frustrations with the public comment questions with it being confusing and would like to see this simplified. Director Fredricks was grateful for the feedback and will share with the rest of the Department on improvements. He explained that the public comments' goal is to get feedback and hear what Idahoan's responses are on an issue. Director Fredricks shared they are undertaking chronic waste disease infection tests. There is a confirmed area, and they have been cautious as it is fifty (50) miles from the Slate Creek area, where they have five (5%) percent of deer, and it is possible for young bucks to cover the ground. By the end of the season, they expect to see a bigger growth, and while it is disappointing, monitoring and taking action is important.
Jess Byrne, Director of the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, shared a desire to expand elk hunting on state and federal land near the Idaho National Laboratory, and they are requesting to open that conversation. Chairman Burtenshaw noted farms have been getting beat up with the number of elk in the area. Darren Parker, US Senator Risch's Office, gave insight on the Grizzly Bear Review and Resource Restart Act (Grrr Act). (Grrr Act) would delist the species and give states two years to decide how to manage the species. It also gives them the option to relist, if warranted, specific populations of bears using updated and modern recovery plans. He explained that this is one of the bills that nothing will happen until it does, and if they can get a roll on it as a must-pass bill, it has a real shot. Dirk Mendive, Congressmen Fulcher’s Office, stated they also were grateful to share that the House has finally voted for a speaker, so now there is hope to have the ball rolling again on budgets and bills.
Mr. Brocksome ended the meeting by sharing input on the Outdoor Recreation Advisory Council as he sits on the Council. They have five (5) million dollars to fund outdoor recreation projects and over ten (10) million in requests, and the Council meets next month to finalize project scoring and send recommendations to the Governor and the Parks and Recreation Board. Some other final comments included a forthcoming bill to prevent collaring data for Big Horn Sheep and other trophy species, including elk, moose, and deer, and addressing methods to protect each from data harvesting that would give way to unethical methods against fair chase.
