The Bureau of Land Management has released a new set of rules meant to deal with crowding issues on the South Fork of the Snake River, one of the nation’s best trout fisheries.
The goal of the new rules to help with overcrowding on the river, particularly during the annual stonefly hatch that draws fisherman from throughout the West. But it avoids limiting the number of individuals who can hit the river on any given day.
“We’re not going to require individuals to get a permit,” BLM Outdoor Recreation Planner Monica Zimmerman said. Instead, the rules focus on limiting money-making ventures and large-group outings on the river, particularly during prime fishing season.
Zimmerman said the new rules have been under consideration for a decade, the last time BLM issued a management plan for the river. From a set of public comment sessions, and later surveys and other efforts to take public input, emerged two common themes.
First, there was increasing concern about the amount of traffic on the river. Second, the public didn’t want access to be limited by a permitting system.
There are four main changes in the rules that attempt to achieve both goals, Zimmerman explained.
First, the state and federal rules and regulations for outfitter licensing and permitting have been tweaked to eliminate inconsistencies.
Second, a decision has been made to limit “special recreation permits” on the river, especially during the stonefly hatch. Special recreation permits are needed by outfitters who engage in profit-making ventures on the river.
None of the eight fishing outfitters licensed to work on the South Fork stand to lose them, Zimmerman said, but BLM won’t expand the number. There will be only six permits for non-fishing outfitters, and the number of trips they can make will be limited by the stonefly hatch.
Third, large groups who want to organize river outings — groups of more than 15 people — will need a permit if they want to launch between July 1 and Labor Day. Such large group permits will be limited to three per day between Monday and Thursday, and to two per day between Friday and Sunday.
Zimmerman said implementation of this rule will occur in 2019 because BLM needs time to work out administrative details.
A fourth rule will implement a reservation system for camping at designated sites along the South Fork, Zimmerman said. With increasing pressure, campsites have sometimes been overcrowded and some campers have begun illegally making camp outside of designated areas, endangering bald eagle habitat and areas home to rare plant populations.
“We’re starting to see a lot more camping, so we’re getting a lot more pressure on resources,” Zimmerman said.
Like the large group rule, the camping reservation rule won’t be implemented until next year as many details have yet to be worked out.
Jimmy Gabettas, owner of Jimmy’s All-Season Angler, said he’s watched traffic on the South Fork explode in the last several decades.
“During the stonefly hatch, people from all over the West come to fish it,” Gabettas said. “There’s been a tremendous increase from the early ’80s.”
Gabettas said he doesn’t think the new rules will have much adverse impact on local fishermen.
“I don’t think it’s going to have much impact on someone going to fish for the day or the afternoon,” he said.
