Idaho Council of Trout Unlimited

Happy Holidays,

I started at the top of 2025 as the new Idaho State Director. This year has been a bit of a rollercoaster with a shifting landscape for the work we do at Trout Unlimited. At the start of the year when federal funding was paused for a bit things felt uncertain, but what I’ve found is that Idaho’s TU Team stayed steadfast; keeping work moving forward undaunted by the shifts in funding, in agency personnel, in attitudes and outlooks. At the tail end of the year, looking back I feel a lot of pride in TU – our adaptability, ingenuity, and commitment to fish and healthy waterways. I feel more optimistic and inspired about the future of our work at the close of 2025 than ever before.

Here’s a quick review of what got done this year and where focus will be in the upcoming year.

This year the Idaho conservation and restoration team:

• Installed 154 log structures containing 1,170 logs.
• Built 203 beaver dam analogs in streams.
• Restored 6 miles of stream habitat and nearly 18 acres of floodplain.
• Ran 9 monitoring projects and assessed over a thousand culverts for fish passage.
• Planted over 1,500 plants.
• Taught about fish and habitat to thousands of children and adults.
• Coordinated two robust watershed collaboratives on the SF Boise and on the Priest River in their process of building restoration plans for these critical basins.
• Signed agreements new multi-year, well-funded agreements with the Bureau of Reclamation, the Nez Perce Tribe, and the Bureau of Land Management.

Our Policy efforts focused on:

• Protecting federal lands through advocacy efforts and meetings with Idaho’s influential Congress members and their staff.
• Meeting with state legislators to serve as a voice for fish in a time when water instream is becoming more threatened and uncertain.
• Some of the big threats to Idaho’s waterways including mining proposals, large water right claims, and supporting the Chapters when able on local issues.

Looking forward into 2026:

• Restoration: With 26 individual stream projects on the docket for implementation next year, the team will continue to get meaningful work done on the ground improving habitat and reconnecting waterways across Idaho.
• Aquatic Connection: We are coordinating across Idaho to assess fish barriers in priority geographies to help better guide project identification increasing benefit for trout and salmon.
• Communications: Improving our communication about the important work that the Idaho team is doing and the challenges that our trout and salmon populations are facing is high priority for Idaho.
• Federal Policy: On federal policy we will stay committed to fighting for keeping federal lands federal, Roadless Areas roadless, and the Clean Water Act meaningful.
• State Water Policy: On a state level we will be expanding our presence in the Upper Snake and increasing coordination across the entire Snake Basin as pressure on our water resources continue to mount.

This year has been challenging, but also offered an opportunity for growth, evolution, and gratitude that has not been missed. The Idaho Team is grateful for your support, efforts, and partnership in our shared goals of caring for streams and rivers so that future generations can also experience the joy of wild trout and salmon. We appreciate all that you do and look forward to continuing in this meaningful work alongside you in 2026.

Happy New Year from Team Idaho TU (some of whom are shown below on their way to fish the Portneuf River)!

From Eric Crawford

Dear friends,

As we close out another year of the Snake River campaign, it feels right, though perhaps a bit cliché, to pause and reflect where we found inspiration, what we accomplished, where we fell short, and how all of it shapes our vision for a brighter future.

This fall, I had the privilege of spending time with some of the fiercest advocates for salmon and steelhead in the Snake River Basin. Alongside Trout Unlimited’s videographer, Josh Duplechian, I traveled to the upper Salmon Basin, the small town of Riggins, Idaho, and the even smaller town of Minam, Oregon. Our goal was to capture what these fish mean to the people, communities, and watersheds they touch.

The stories we heard were remarkable. From grandparents sharing the magic of wild steelhead spawning just steps from their front door to outfitters whose livelihoods depend on Idaho’s most treasured species, Chinook salmon and steelhead. We met those who have fought for decades to restore wild fish, sharing their experiences with customers and clients and even members of Congress from the quiet vantage point of a drift boat on the Salmon River. And we listened to a man whose family has lived along the Snake River for five generations, recounting how its tributaries sustained his community and fueled a lifelong pursuit of the elusive steelhead in the Grande Ronde Basin.

These encounters reminded me why a free-flowing lower Snake River and healthy, abundant wild salmon and steelhead matter so deeply. These fish connect us to place, to tradition, to each other in ways that bring joy and meaning to those fortunate enough to experience them.

We captured these moments in photographs and film, and we look forward to sharing these stories with you in the coming year.

As much as I’d like to frame this past year as a triumph for Snake River salmon and steelhead, it wasn’t. We saw the termination of the Resilient Columbia River Agreement and the Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative, a framework that offered hope for recovery and restoration across the basin. These were significant setbacks. Yet, they were also guiding lights: the first of their kind to chart a path toward healthy, abundant salmon and steelhead while balancing the basin’s diverse social, ecological, cultural, and economic interests. That vision remains critical, and it will continue to shape our work ahead.

In August, Trout Unlimited partnered with the Nez Perce Tribe to host a field tour in the Wallowa Basin. The focus was on wild summer Chinook returning to the Lostine River to complete their circle of life, a powerful reminder of what’s at stake.

We heard from Nez Perce tribal members about the historical and cultural significance these fish once held, and how that legacy has been diminished by declining returns. We met an outfitter who shared how the basin’s fisheries sustain his small business and ripple through the local economy, supporting guides, purveyors, and service providers while allowing him to provide for his family and remain deeply connected to the waters of northeast Oregon.

We also visited a cattle rancher who took it upon themselves to restore a section of the Wallowa River simply because it was the right thing to do. Today, they speak with pride about improved rainbow trout fishing, spawning salmon and steelhead in the restored reach, abundant wildlife using the riparian corridor, and their hope to one day see the return of Pacific lamprey.

Your commitment made a difference. This year, we saw over 4,800 actions taken, calls and messages to local and federal officials in support of wild salmon and steelhead recovery. Even in a year of tough news, you showed up: educating yourselves on the nuances of the Snake River campaign with 3,700 blog views, reading, learning, and becoming informed advocates.

We were thrilled to see the reach of our partnership with MeatEater through Ryan Callaghan’s Cal in the Field episode, Problem Dams and Tribal Fishing Rights which explored the lower Snake River issue with insight from Nez Perce Tribal Chairman Shannon Wheeler.

Finally, we launched our campaign rebrand: No More Lower Four. If you haven’t already, place your order today and show your support for recovering wild Snake River salmon and steelhead.

Current events

On December 17, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council released its draft amendments to the Fish and Wildlife Program, a five-year plan that guides the Council in fulfilling its legal obligation to enhance, mitigate, and protect fish and wildlife impacted by the federal hydropower system. Trout Unlimited will continue its engagement, following up on recommendations we previously submitted and ensuring the Council meets its responsibilities under the Northwest Power Act to balance the region’s power needs with the protection of fish and wildlife resources.

Meanwhile, parties to National Wildlife Federation v. National Marine Fisheries Service have initiated litigation, with plaintiffs filing a request for immediate injunctive relief. The core objective: reduce water transit time for juvenile salmon and steelhead migrating through the hydrosystem. Proposed operational changes include increased spill and minimum operating pool levels, actions most likely to achieve these results. A decision from the U.S. District Court for Oregon is expected soon.

With a new year quickly approaching, we’re in the process of building our campaign for the new year, all of which includes our most important asset, each of you. We’ll continue our deep engagement with our partners in the Columbia Snake River Campaign, led by the Nez Perce Tribe while keeping you informed and engaged throughout the year.

Time is running out to fulfill your 2025 resolution, to send a note of encouragement to Congress to restore and recover wild salmon and steelhead in the Snake River basin, but we’ve made it easy with this link: https://www.tu.org/lowersnake/ .

I must admit, the Snake River challenge feels overwhelming, and at times our efforts seem small against the currents of change. But I want to provide you with encouragement, like wild salmon and steelhead pushing upstream through powerful whitewater, our shared commitment is mightier than the obstacles ahead. Together, we chart a course toward a free-flowing lower Snake River and the return of wild salmon and steelhead, symbols of resilience and renewal. The journey is long, but hope rises with every individual action we take.

In closing, thank you. Thank you for your continued support, encouragement, dedication and commitment to Snake River wild salmon and steelhead.

Eric Crawford

Snake River Campaign Director

Trout Unlimited

By Shawn Hills

When I first got the TU/NPT internship; I was ecstatic that I would finally be able to go out and help with conservation efforts. Although I have been fortunate enough to grow up in the gateway to Hells Canyon enjoy its many perks, I have never truly understood what conservation looks like.

Shawn in front of Lower Granite Dam during a July Tour

First outdoor experience

Pilot Knob from neighboring hill

The second week was one of the most memorable times of my whole experience. During that time, I did barrier crossing assessments with Trout Unlimited (TU) on the South Fork Clearwater River. While surveying barriers, I learned that non-fish bearing streams are still vital because they can provide cold and clean water from high up on the mountains. Furthermore, failing culverts can block aquatic species movement and if the fail can lead to roads collapsing which can send a pile of dirt and debris into the sensitive aquatic ecosystems that fish like trout and juvenile salmon rely on. During our work we got to see a ton of breathtaking wilderness that I hadn’t seen before. After this trip I was super excited about what work lay ahead for the rest of the summer.

Working with Trout Unlimited

Although much of my work was with the Nez Perce Tribe or on TU/NPT partnership projects, my direct work with TU was impactful. With TU I was able to observe the construction of a new stream, survey a sediment sump dump, interview TU workers from different areas, and got to see Lower Granite Dam.

Track truck at Indian Grave Creek site

On Indian Grave Creek there was a velocity constraint from the steepness and straightness of the channel. So, in partnership between TU, the Nez Perce Tribe, and a contractor they were able to go in and form a new channel that would allow easier fish passage. I also learned about the techniques used to form new channels like strategically placed logs, rocks, and dirt. I also, learned what factors are worthy of consideration when doing restoration work,  like determining the goal of the new stream after restoration, and that it is important to evaluate nearby landscape to determine if there was a historical channel. Along with at I got to see some cool machinery at work.

I got to interview TU staff in different departments and places outside Lewiston. One of them is Helen Neville, who is a senior scientist, and she taught me about genetics and how they can play an important role in conservation. I also got to interview Paul Parsons who is the restoration director for TU in Montana. However, before that he was a river engineer which is a subset of civil engineering. I’m currently wanting to go into mechanical engineering but hearing about that opportunity I am now considering doing civil engineering so that I can continue working outdoors.

Finally, I got to go see Lower Granite dam with Erin Plue, the director for TU in Idaho. While there we saw the fish ladder and how it works. We then ended up looking through the window into the fish ladder for about thirty minutes seeing all the different types of fish go by. We even saw 1 of 741 sockeye salmon that had gone through the ladder and a giant chinook salmon that was around 40 inches long!

Giant chinook salmon in fish ladder at Lower Granite Dam

Working with the Nez Perce Tribe

During my time I got to work with some brilliant people from the Nez Perce Tribe and got to go on some awesome trips with them. One of my most memorable experiences was when I helped work up lamprey eels to be released at the tribal hatchery on Cherry Lane. During that I was able to handle the eels and get fin clippings. It was super fun trying to handle the eels and be apart of the organized chaos.

Furthermore, a place that was unforgettable was Musselshell Meadows. In the short time of my internship, I got to see a log jam removal, removal of fish via electroshocking for bridge construction, and the beginning stages of beaver dam analogues getting put in. Also, on one of the drives up there I saw my first Idaho moose and her calves!

The moose and her calves

Although those are my favorite trips, I also got to go on the Lewiston Orchards Irrigation district tour, survey juvenile salmon and steelhead, do a tour of Wallowa Lake, and survey for PIT tags.

Final thoughts

My time with TU this summer has been nothing short of unforgettable, from the stunning wildlife and nature to the amazing coworkers and worksites. In this short time, I’ve learned so much about what conservation looks like by seeing streams get restored, the data collection needed to make it so people can go out in the field and do projects, and hatcheries keeping the populations up. Although this must unfortunately come to an end, I am now going to be able to go into the rest of my life with many great lessons and memories.

Participate at https://go.tulocalevents.org/4d59ae/Campaign/Details

Fall meeting of Idaho Council of Trout Unlimited will be Saturday October 18 at the Fairbridge Suites and Hotel in Idaho Falls.

With my deepest sincerity I want to thank you for selecting me to receive the Idaho State Council of Trout Unlimited Graduate Scholarship. In my application I emphasized that by selecting me for this scholarship you were not only providing monetary funds to support the quality of my research but also providing recognition of the importance of a young scientist pursuing the field of Natural Resources. This recognition is the exact support I need to continue my career trajectory and the future of fisheries management in the United States. Finally, the research you are supporting has already uncovered vital information on endemic Bear Lake Sculpin. The results of my work will help the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources monitor the species in Bear Lake to ensure their persistence into the future. I cannot thank you enough.

Best,

Ethan Orach

Ethan’s essay for the scholarship follows…

Fisheries managers across the country seek to maintain a balance between recreational opportunities and the preservation of native species. Effective management requires adaptive and sound research that evaluates the past and the present to promote stability in the future of fisheries. As I devoted angler myself, I cherish the recreational fisheries opportunities I have pursued throughout my young adulthood, but my scientific interests in these fisheries is far deeper. As such, I have begun to pursue my M.S of Natural Resources at the University of Idaho. I strive to gain research experience, learn analytical techniques, and develop technical writing skills. I have a commitment to understanding the underlying mechanisms that constitute effective fisheries management. The skills I obtain from my degree will allow me to make impactful decisions as I pursue a career as a Fisheries Biologist.

Prior to pursing my masters, I completed my undergraduate degree in Wildlife Ecology at the University of Maine in 2021. I graduated with Summa Cum Laude honors. As an undergraduate student I was a track and field runner and the captain of the team during my senior year. Also, I was the vice president of the fishing club during my senior year and American Fisheries Society member. I developed my fisheries management work experience by working seasonal positions with Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Through these opportunities, I have become proficient with a breadth of fish sampling gears and a diversity of sampling designs to achieve research objectives. My responsibilities have required analyzing datasets and have allowed me to complete published writing in regional management reports. At this point in my career, I am committed to my research project and will spend multiple summers collecting data in the field.

I believe I should be selected for this scholarship because of my commitment to make a positive impact in the natural resource community. I hope to bring innovative approaches to fisheries management as threats of climate change, habitat degradation, pollution, and the introduction of nonnative fishes increase.

Noah Frost with one of the denizens of Idaho’s Blackfoot River.

Frost received his undergraduate degree from the University of Maine and moved to Idaho to continue gaining experience in the fisheries field. “Obtaining a Masters degree in a program that is so intertwined with native fish management and working collaboratively with state agencies would give me the best chance of continuing in the field and making a difference in native fish conservation,” said Frost. “Upon completing my degree at the University of Idaho, I will have the skillset and qualifications to work for a state agency such as the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and continue their mission to conserve and manage fish and wildlife resources in perpetuity.”

I will receive additional hands-on fisheries experience and learn important analytical techniques over the course of this two-and-a-half-year project. I will illustrate my ability to work independently, think critically, and communicate my findings effectively. These skills will allow me to apply and compete for fisheries biologist positions with natural resource agencies. Dr. Michael Quist’s lab is well known for producing quality, applied research on native fishes. There is an information gap regarding the Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout population in the upper Blackfoot River. I am conducting a hands-on investigation into what is driving population demographics in this system. I will spend months in the field, likely handle thousands of fish, and maintain remote PIT tag arrays. This work will yield a large amount of information that is not currently available to managers. My research project on this population will allow natural resource managers to make informed conservation decisions regarding the persistence of this population. Furthermore, my findings will be applicable to populations of Cutthroat Trout that inhabit mainstem rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and headwater streams.

I have built meaningful relationships with biologists and managers throughout my time as a technician. The next step to attaining my lifelong goal of becoming a fisheries biologist is completing this Masters program. The financial support from scholarships such as this one will be instrumental in helping me reach this goal for many reasons. Conducting fisheries research is expensive, and my project is roughly ten hours from my home. Additional financial support will allow me to purchase previously unbudgeted supplies (i.e., additional PIT tags, field groceries) and travel to and from my field station to manage remote PIT tag arrays in the shoulder seasons. I am not able to work a second job during this project, and support from conservation organizations like TU will ensure that the final product of this research is of top quality. Ultimately leading to meaningful conservation implementation and compounding benefits to Cutthroat Trout generally. Again, I thank you for your consideration and look forward to hearing back.

Noah Frost

Friends and supporters,

Each spring, I look at the river with hope. As high-country snow melts, flows rise, and once again, the spring Chinook begin their long journey home. In the Snake River Basin—one of the most extraordinary salmon landscapes in the world—these fish are still returning. But each year, they return in fewer numbers, and with more obstacles in their path.

The latest forecast from the Columbia River Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) underscores the urgency of our mission. For 2025, the TAC projects a return of approximately  7,824 wild Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook. This stark figure highlights the critical need for immediate and sustained conservation efforts.

The  Columbia Basin Partnership’s Phase 2 report  set a natural origin quantitative goal of 159,000 returning spring/summer Chinook to the Snake River basin annually to support healthy and harvestable populations. Right now, we’re falling short—the 10-year average is approximately 13,400 wild adults, barely 10% of the goal. That gap isn’t just a statistic, it’s a call to action.

But here’s the other truth: we know what needs to be done, and we have the power to do it. 

Removing the four lower Snake River dams  is the single most impactful step we can take to bring these iconic fish back to abundance. This isn’t just about salmon. It’s about honoring tribal treaties, restoring ecosystems, revitalizing rural economies, and doing right by future generations. Our movement is growing, and the momentum is real.

We have proof that bold action works. 

Look to the  Elwha River, where the Elwha and Glines Canyon Dams were taken down between  2011 and 2014. Since then, Chinook, steelhead, and other native fish have returned to spawn in stretches of river that hadn’t run free in over a century. The river healed faster than anyone expected—and the fish wasted no time coming home.

And now, we are witnessing history again. In  2023 and early 2024, the first of the  Klamath River dams began coming down, and already  Chinook are returning to areas upstream  that had been blocked for over a hundred years. These are not just stories of recovery—they are blueprints for the Snake.

Of course, we must stay vigilant. Just weeks ago, a sweeping executive order called for reducing what it describes as “regulatory burdens” across federal agencies. While the intent may be to streamline government processes, there’s concern that it could weaken key environmental protections like the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act – laws that have safeguarded our rivers, fish and the communities for decades. And recently, announced a directive to  “sunset”  many of the very laws that protect, conserve and enhance salmon and steelhead populations in Columbia and Snake River basins.  These protections are foundational, not optional and we’ll be working hard to ensure they remain strong and effective for the future of wild fish and clean water.

We also need to keep a close eye on Congress and the Northwest Energy Security Act (Senate Bill 182  and  House Resolution 626)  could have serious consequences for our bedrock environmental laws and how agencies manage habitat and species. We are tracking both bills closely—and we’ll be asking you, our grassroots force, to take action when the time comes.

Here’s where you come in. 

Grassroots advocacy has always been the engine behind our success. When wild fish are in trouble, you don’t sit back. You write letters, lead restoration efforts, speak out at town halls, mentor the next generation, and build lasting partnerships in your communities.

This spring, I’m asking you to keep showing up—louder, stronger, and more unified than ever:

Contact your elected officials—especially in Idaho, Washington, and Oregon—and urge them to support removal of the four lower Snake River dams. 

Defend our environmental laws from political rollback. Let your representatives know that clean water and wild fish are not up for negotiation.

Volunteer.  Whether it’s planting trees, rebuilding streambanks, or mentoring youth anglers—every action matters.

Spread hope.  Share the stories of rivers rebounding, fish returning, and communities rallying. Let people know we’re winning—because we are.

We still have a narrow window to turn things around for spring Chinook in the Snake River. Let’s not miss it.

Thank you for your ongoing support,

Eric Crawford

Snake River Campaign Director

Trout Unlimited

By Greg Fitz

Boise, Idaho – Erin Plue has been chosen from a strong field of candidates to lead Trout Unlimited’s (TU) Idaho program. Since 2020, Plue has led TU’s watershed restoration work in northern Idaho, including the Coeur d’Alene, Pend Oreille, and Kootenai River basins. Building from a foundation in ecology, she brings diverse skills and experience including policy advocacy, project management and community-building to her new statewide leadership role.

Prior to joining TU, Plue managed communications and partnerships for Idaho Forest Group, one of the largest wood products producers in the United States. That experience has equipped her well to advance forest management strategies that support watershed health, conserve fisheries, and reduce wildfire risk.

“One of Erin’s great strengths is her proven ability and commitment to approaching TU’s steelhead, salmon and trout conservation mission from a community perspective,” said Rob Masonis, TU’s vice president for the Pacific region. “She has worked extensively with community leaders representing diverse interests to build support for clean water and healthy watersheds, which are essential to thriving fish populations and Idaho communities.”

Plue is excited about taking the helm of TU’s Idaho program. She replaces Kira Finkler, who recently retired after a distinguished conservation career.

“In my experience, effective conservation leaders have a comprehensive vision of natural resource use and management. They understand how to find common ground with a wide array of partners, including business and industry,” said Plue. “I understand that healthy watersheds and economic vitality are both important to community well-being. That perspective guides my work with our talented TU staff and volunteers to ensure that Idaho’s irreplaceable steelhead, salmon and trout are here for future generations.”

As Idaho director, Plue is part of Trout Unlimited’s Pacific Region leadership team that includes state programs in Alaska, California, Oregon and Washington.

Advertisement in Idaho Statesman, April 20, 2025.