UPDATE: The 2023 Station Creek build day has been cancelled due to heavy snowfall and high flows.
The WATS/CEWA 5624 Spring 2023 class will focus on Station Creek in southeast Idaho. Station Creek is a left-bank tributary to the Bear River, which joins the Bear River just downstream of Oneida Narrows and the Mink Creek confluence. The project is on landowner Terry Westerberg’s property. Terry saw the success of Jay Wilde’s beaver reintroduction on Birch Creek, just over the hill, and wanted to see similar improvements to Station Creek through his property. The project was originally envisioned as a BDA-assisted, beaver translocation project and was going to be funded by Pacificorps.
Course Logistics
Getting There
Important: Transportation will not be provided to Birch Creek. You are strongly encouraged to carpool with other students and/or volunteer participants up to Station Creek. It is about an hour drive from Logan to the Field Site. There is ample parking on site. There is some cell reception.
We will meet at the Station Creek Trailhead at 9 AM (about 1 hour drive from Logan @ 5484 E Station Creek Rd, Preston, ID 83263). Please note that Google maps may lead you to a nearby but incorrect location. The coordiantes for the parking area are 42.162928, -111.743293.
NOTE: For emergencies, Franklin County Medical Center in Preston is the closest hospital to this field site @ 20 minutes away.
What do I need to bring?
Field Gear
Your safety is our top priority, but you are the most important person in ensuring your safety and comfort. So bring common sense. This is Spring in the mountains. You should be prepared for anything from sunny skies and sunburn, to snow and hypothermia (yes we’ve already had our first snow-storms, and yes we will work in the snow). The current forecast is for rain. We will be hiking through and doing work in small, cold, wadeable streams.
- We strongly recommend a pair of chest waders and wading boots, to keep you warm and dry. If you cannot get a pair of waders, please email Dominique Shore and we will see what we can find.
- You also should bring whatever outdoor clothing and gear to keep yourself comfortable. Layers, coats, gloves, hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a dry change of clothes and footwear for afterwards are all a must. No open-toed shoes will be allowed.
- Wear work clothing suitable for a construction site.
We will provide you with basic personal protective equipment (PPEs like work gloves, eye protection, hard hats, ear protection). However, if you have any of your own personal PPE you are more comfortable in, please bring it.
If you have any allergies or medical conditions that we should be aware of, please notify us of those when filling out your participant waiver.
Lunch and Snacks
Please bring your own lunch and snacks to keep you going throughout the day. You will also want to bring plenty of water and a refillable water bottle (we will have some water jugs for refilling).
About Station Creek
Resources for Students
Static Maps from RCAT and BRAT
See here for album to download map images.
USGS StreamStats
Jay Wilde’s Story of Beaver Reintroduction on Birch Creek
Idaho Rancher Jay Wilde tells his story about bringing beaver back to the creek he grew up on to restore flow. Jay went on the road in the summer of 2018 and helped spread this message to workshop participants in five SGI Low-Tech Process Based Restoration of Mesic & Riparian Workshops. This video below is from the Logan Workshop:
Birch Creek was the catalyst for the Station Creek project.