Whirling disease in two creeks

Whirling disease has been found in Sweetwater and Lapwai creeks, wildlife officials say.

But there is little risk to fish in the creeks, according to officials with both the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The disease is caused by a parasite that can infect fish when they eat tubifex worms. The parasite sometimes causes fish to swim erratically — hence the name — and has caused fish die-offs in Montana’s Madison River and other areas.

Keith Johnson, supervisor of Fish and Game’s Fish Health Laboratory at Eagle, said the north-central Idaho creeks had only a light infection, which was not expected to kill scores of fish.

Associated Press

Around the state

$450,000 available for conservation grants

The U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service in Idaho is making $450,000 available for Conservation Innovation Grants.

Conservation Innovation Grants are intended to stimulate the development and adoption of new conservation approaches and technologies while leveraging federal investment in environmental enhancement. Applicants may be state or local government agencies, tribes, organizations or individuals.

The purpose of the grants is not research but to apply new innovative technologies on the ground. Priority will be given to proposals to address odor issues associated with confined animal operations, invasive species management and grazing lands management.

The grants awarded will be up to $75,000 each and require a 50 percent non-federal match. Half of the match may be for in-kind services.

The request for proposals closes May 15. Application information can be found at www.id.nrcs.usda.gov/programs. Or call (208) 378-5703.

– Scott Maben

Spate of crashes keeps police busy

Idaho State Police responded to seven separate car crashes involving 10 to 15 vehicles within moments of one another around 4 p.m. Friday.

All of the crashes were in a half-mile stretch of Interstate 90 between mileposts 10 and 10.5 in the westbound lane. One crash involved seven vehicles, an ISP dispatcher said.

The dispatcher said one person was transported to Kootenai Medical Center, but she didn’t know how severe the injuries were.

The crashes, which remain under investigation, occurred during a brief torrent of rain.

– Taryn Brodwater