Ben Lzicar, a Boise resident and avid river recreator, shares his concerns with how Idaho Power’s clean energy goals have failed to acknowledge hydropower’s drawbacks. He brings up the detrimental impacts dams have on Idaho’s native fish populations, as well as the fact that the reservoirs dams create emit a significant amount of greenhouse gases.

Aveda is credited with raising over $60 million dollars through their Earth Month program between 1999 and November 2018. Idaho Rivers United is lucky enough to be one of the beneficiaries of Aveda salon efforts in Boise, Twin Falls, Hailey, Pocatello and Idaho Falls. Join us this April to celebrate Earth Month, our partnership with Aveda and the phenomenal people who make it all possible.

On an advertising panel in Boise’s Camel’s Back Park, Midas Gold lays out the attractions of their proposed Stibnite Project located in the headwaters of the East Fork of the South Fork of the Salmon River. The advertisement claims the project will boost Idaho’s economy, provide employment opportunities, and restore fish migration to the nearby rivers and streams. Nowhere on the sign does Midas acknowledge that the Stibnite Project is a massive open-pit gold mining operation that will put a unique and cherished place at risk of losing its wild heart.

This week a judge has ruled in favor of the Forest Service in their case against 35 placer mining claims located along the South Fork of the Payette River. The decision signifies a victory for the numerous local outfitters, rafters, kayakers, businesses, and conservation groups that opposed the development of mining activities along this stretch of river.

Following a public meeting where Valley County residents expressed to their commissioners a strong opposition to the proposed agreement, Midas withdrew their offer. Moreover, the Idaho Attorney General’s office has raised valid issues regarding Midas Gold’s Stibnite Advisory Council. At IRU, we were leery about this partnership agreement from the very beginning, Assistant Chief Deputy Brian Kane solidified our concerns.

In the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr’s 1963 - I Have a Dream Speech, Bert Bowler shares “A Dream for Restoring Wild Snake River Salmon and Steelhead".”

Midas Gold has been working diligently to convince the communities of the West Central Mountains to sign a partnership agreement which is being touted to investors in exchange for rising stock prices. This past Monday notched a big win for those who oppose the Stibnite Gold Project. After due diligence by the City of McCall, the Council unanimously voted not to sign an agreement with Midas Gold.

If I had to describe Idaho’s South Fork of the Salmon in one phrase, I’d call it the rowdy cousin to its more famous and beloved drainage to the east, the Middle Fork. I’d even go a little further and call it the three-bourbons-deep, wrassle-you-to-the-ground, slap-your-ass-and-leave-some-pawprints babe of a cousin to the Middle Fork.  I had the pleasure of getting my first taste of a solid South Fork welcoming slap a couple years ago.

Fall 2018 semester, IRU was fortunate to work with Boise State University’s Service Learning Program. We coordinated with Professor Mari Rice’s Environmental Studies class to recruit passionate students to join IRU for a semester. Over the course of the semester, students researched conservation policy, assisted in our education program, and created helpful communication tools we plan to implement over the next several months. These eight students surpassed our expectations.

Idaho Rivers United encourages the Idaho Fish and Game Commission to move quickly to reopen steelhead fishing while awaiting a final permit from NOAA.

Idaho Rivers United teamed up with BSU Environmental Studies students to create river education projects that engaged over 330 students in the Treasure Valley.

IRU had the privilege of working with eight BSU college students to extend specific communications, policy and education projects. The education program paired up with Boys and Girls Club in both the Meridian and Garden City locations.  

Yesterday, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission reacted to the threat of a possible lawsuit over management of the wild steelhead fishery in Idaho, which has been conducted without proper permits since 2010.