Small Streams, December 7th, 2024

A meeting in Idaho Falls took place two evenings ago to provide information on the ongoing gold exploration in the West Camas Creek drainage northwest of Kilgore. This action is being performed by a Canadian company which has cut roads and produced drill holes damaging habitat in Caribou-Targhee National Forest land. These actions alone alter the environment used by big game animals as well as some headwater streams that host cutthroat trout.  Concern for these actions are based on the possibility that if gold in economic amounts is found, an open pit mine could be constructed resulting in major damage to the area.

     1.  Specific concerns include physical and chemical alteration of the West Camas Creek, the area     trunk stream, which sinks into the substrate at the top of the Snake River Plain Aquifer, 

2.    Degradation of this drainage at the top of the aquifer could negatively alter its quality impacting downstream agricultural and municipal use as far as the Magic Valley,

            3.   Loss of water quality in the West Fork of Camas Creek impacting the hosted cutthroat and exotic trout (brook and brown trout) population, 

            4. Major loss of big game habitat in the area, and

            5. Loss of scenic values.

Private organizations such as the Idaho Conservation League and public agencies including IDFG Fish and Game Upper Snake River Region Department are watching impact and progress of this activity.