Picabo Blaine

Well, your guess is as good as ours, but you would have been in good company January 22, as a group of ten  tried to come up with a likely answer. All of us at the ERC's event watched in awe as the golden eagle flew over head and landed in front of us, and then in puzzlement as it began its long trek up the (large, steep) hillside! It seems that each visit we make to observe birds at Silver Creek Preserve with local expert birder Poo Wright-Pulliam presents unique or unlikely scenarios.  If you missed last month's trip, definitely don't miss the next one, on February 26.  ERC members are free but we ask a $10 individual/$20 family donation for non-members.  You don't need to know anything about birds to come, but you do need some snowshoes.  Register by calling  208.726.4333. Details>

At approximately 1428 hours, on Wednesday, February 2, 2011, the Blaine County Communications Center received a report of a fuel tanker truck explosion south of the Ranchers Supply, in Picabo, Idaho.  Members of the Carey Fire Department, the Wood River Fire Department, the Friedman Memorial Airport Fire Department, and the Blaine County Sheriff’s Department responded to the Picabo Ranch, southwest of Picabo, where the actual explosion occurred.

45 year old Lee A. Andreas of Firth, Idaho and 53 year old Craig L. Adamson, of Carey, Idaho were on the Picabo Ranch and working in tandem to transfer fuel between Andreas’ truck and Adamson’s truck when the fuel trailer which Andreas was hauling ignited and exploded.  Andreas was standing between the trucks and was knocked to the ground by the explosion.  Andreas’ jacket caught fire during the explosion, but it was quickly extinguished.

Andreas was examined at the scene by Carey QRU and Wood River Fire, but refused transport.  Adamson was on top of the fuel trailer and was killed instantly.  Due to the massive fire, extreme heat, concern of further explosions, the fire crews were not able to locate and remove Adamson until 1900 hours.

Blaine County deputies and members of the Carey Fire Department monitored the scene throughout the night.  At approximately 1930 hours all fire units were released from the scene.  At approximately 2047 hours, Adamson’s truck re-ignited and the Carey Fire Department was requested back at the scene to control any further spreading.

Crews from all responding agencies will assist the State Fire Marshall with the investigation on Thursday February 3, 2011.

Do you fly fish, bird or visit Silver Creek Preserve? Are you interested in assisting with conservation? The Nature Conservancy wants to hear from you!

Silver Creek has long been recognized as one of the finest spring creeks in the country. A new enhancement plan seeks to make it even better.

The Nature Conservancy has announced that it will work with Ecosystem Sciences, a non-profit Boise-based consulting firm, to develop a comprehensive plan to restore stretches of Silver Creek and its tributaries that need most help, and to use the restoration methods that will have the most conservation benefit. The effort will result in habitat projects that benefit the fishery as well as many wildlife species.

“The goal of this project is to improve the fish and wildlife habitat on a watershed level at Silver Creek, and to make it the most resilient it can be for the long term,” says Dayna Gross, the Conservancy’s Silver Creek Preserve manager.

Ecosystem Sciences will create a comprehensive, integrated watershed plan for the creek by examining the entire watershed, including tributaries and all land and water uses.

“We are so pleased to be working with a firm that takes a holistic view of the entire watershed,” says Gross. “We believe this offers an incredible future for Silver Creek.”

The enhancement effort at Silver Creek will address increased water temperature, as well as sediment loading. Increased water temperatures have contributed to fish kills in years when less water is in the stream.

For the past 35 years, Silver Creek has been a successful conservation project due to community support. The enhancement plan will likewise be driven by community involvement, with a series of public meetings to gather input from stakeholders. The public is invited and encouraged to attend and participate.

The first meeting will be at noon March 25 at the Picabo General Store. A complete meeting schedule follows.

If you are interested in attending or participating, please contact Dayna Gross at 208-788-7910.

Public Meetings

March 25 – noon, Picabo Store

March 25- 3:30 pm, The Nature Conservancy’s Hailey Office

April 22 – noon, Picabo Store

April 24 – noon, Picabo Store

April 26 – 5: 30 pm, The Nature Conservancy’s Hailey Office

May 29 –  Opening Day. Presentations for review and input at the Silver Creek Visitor Center all day.