Bar-G Muddy Springs Creek Habitat Phase I

The initial scope of work for the construction of Phase 1 of the Bar-G Muddy Springs Habitat Project Trout Unlimited was based on 1) conceptual design from NRCS and 2) was contingent upon resolution of non-compliant water use out of Warm Springs Bar-G Farms’ neighbor. It was anticipated that the conceptual design by NRCS would be sufficient for construction. It has become clear that fully engineered design by a firm that has experience with spring-source development will be needed. It was anticipated that non-compliant water-withdrawal from Warm Springs by the neighboring landowner would be resolved by IDWR. IDWR was not admitted access to the site by the neighbor (Hanging-T Ranch) and did not respond to requests both from within the department and from partners for follow-up documentation and notification of non-compliance.



Overall, the enforcement of legal water use from Warm Springs and the delivery of water to off-site stock-troughs will still be an important component of Muddy Springs Habitat improvement planned on Bar-G Farms. This project will go back into preliminary planning, without the use of the funding under this agreement. This project will seek funding for design and construction when the water dispute on Warm Springs has a resolution.



No PCSRF funding was expended.

The subsequent phases of habitat work will directly increase rearing capacity for juvenile salmon and steelhead. The achievement of those objectives hinges on development of off-stream stock-water sites. Providing off-stream stock-water also eliminates heavy livestock impacts at the location of a water-gap on Muddy Springs Creek. These actions balance landowner livestock management objectives with habitat improvement objectives of subsequent project phases. The installation of a fully enclosed water delivery system with an accurate measuring device will ensure legal water utilization. This, in turn, assures predictable water contributions of Warm Springs to Muddy Springs Creek, where fish will benefit from consistent base-flows.