Forest Service Closes Section Of Salmon

People on float trips have ignored restrictions on travel through sensitive salmon spawning areas, so the U.S. Forest Service has closed a section of the main Salmon River to all public traffic.

The Salmon River from the Yankee Fork downstream to the eastern boundary of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area is closed to rafters and kayakers until further notice.

“This closure is a result of the general public continuing to float through areas that are closed, rather than portaging around them,” said Paul Ries, area ranger.

“We regret that we have to take this action, but we have no choice. People have violated closed portions of the river, interfering with threatened and endangered salmon spawning.”

Forest Service crews spent the weekend posting the river. “Starting this week, we will have personnel along the river to enforce the closure,” Ries said.

The closure does not affect commercial operations. Ries said outfitters and guides and their customers have done a good job portaging watercraft around the closed areas.

A study last year came up with recommendations on how much river activity could be allowed when threatened salmon returned to the area to spawn.

A penalty point system was set up. Ries said public floaters exceeded the maximum number of penalty points allowed, so public traffic was banned.

The six-mile portion of the river from Stanley to Mormon Bend remains open for the public to float.

To date, more than 200 salmon have returned to the river stretch.