Paris Creek is a tributary to the Bear River in Bear Lake County, Idaho, that historically provided tributary spawning habitat for migratory BCT from the Bear River. Currently, the stream harbors a robust resident population of BCT, but few migratory fish have been able to access the stream because of irrigation diversions and an impassable culvert near the confluence of Paris Creek and the Bear River. As the first phase of a project to reconnect Paris Creek to the Bear River, we began in the fall of 2007 by replacing the culvert with a bridge. The new crossing structure allows for farm equipment to be moved across the river, and does not impede upstream fish passage. We hope to continue our restoration in Paris Creek in the future by moving upstream to retrofit two existing irrigation diversions with fish screens and bypass channels. Currently, these diversions do not block upstream passage completely, but may delay spring spawning migrations during dry years and likely entrain BCT and other native fishes during the summer irrigation season.
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