Fish and Mussel Salvage near Bovill, Idaho

Recently, stream flow in 120 lineal feet of Potlatch Creek near Bovill, Idaho was diverted to allow a bridge to be rebuilt. The Idaho Transportation Department, after consultation with Idaho Fish and Game, required the contractor to perform a fish salvage effort in the area impacted by water diversion. This reach of Potlatch Creek is a small, wadeable stream and is inhabited by ESA listed steelhead and other native fishes and invertebrate species.

To reduce environmental impacts from the project, EcoAnalysts performed a fish and mussel salvage operation. Given less than a 24-hour notice, EcoAnalysts quickly mobilized and provided a fully equipped fisheries crew to assist the client. Using backpack electrofishing methods, we captured, identified, counted, and removed all fish in the project area and placed them, unharmed, in a downstream area. In addition, we relocated over 80 western pearlshell freshwater mussels. Mussels can live for 80 years or more, are an important part of the stream ecosystem, and have become increasingly rare. We provided a summary report of our findings within two weeks of project initiation and final report was submitted by the client to ITD, which reviewed and accepted the results.