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10 CapitalPress.com February 5, 2016 Marsh Creek restored with help from coalition By HEATHER SMITH THOMAS For the Capital Press Courtesy photo Jim Guthrie Sr. talks about the accomplishments along Marsh Creek over the years. His ranchland has been turned into an example of how to do it correctly. started was before my time. I then had the opportunity to work with them on two stream- bank restoration projects on the main stem of the Portneuf Riv- er where we fenced off the bank from cattle access,” he said. “We were able to put in some toe rock, along with a softer approach for stream- bank stabilization by planting willows and shaping the bank so the soil would catch and hold there. During high water when some of the bank caves away, it now falls into willows that catch the silt, to rebuild the bank. This is very effective,” Banks said. The Guthries did an earlier project that started things in Heather Thomas/For the Capital Press Erika Larson looks at the ripar- ian restoration work that was accomplished on the Guthrie property. the right direction. “The stream was widen- ing and threatening his barn, and now it’s a narrow stream again, with vegetative shade and cover on each side of it. The transformation on their property has been amazing,” Banks said. The Guthries also partic- ipated in one of the Marsh Creek grants. They wanted to fence off Marsh Creek all the way through their proper- ty, along with the conluence where Marsh Creek meets the Portneuf River. Now 2,800 feet of fence goes all the way up through their property along Marsh Creek, and more wil- lows have come back in along the creek, without any outside help. “Jim has taken a lot of care Fisher’s Supply is your Source for high efficiency water solutions. We offer irrigation design & consulting, irrigation pumps, VFD’s, valves and control systems. 659 SW 1st Ave. Canby OR 97013 www.fisherssupply.com Vic Schneider (503) 572-0305 vic@fisherssupply.com W16-4/#6 Nathan Leao (503) 519-8298 nathan@fisherssupply.com W16-1/#7 Several restoration projects have been undertaken in the past 10 years to restore and im- prove streambanks along the Portneuf River and its tributar- ies. These projects have been cooperative efforts involving diverse groups of people with a common goal. The coalition working on these projects calls itself the Portneuf River Project. Chris Banks, water quality resource consultant for Car- ibou Conservation District and a conservationist with the Idaho Association of Soil Con- servation Districts, has been part of the group. One of the success stories he likes to tell about is Marsh Creek, which lows into the Portneuf River on land owned by ranchers Jim and Carol Guthrie. “Jim and Carol have done a lot, and the initial project Jim to monitor and watch for weeds in those riparian areas and in some places he’s been able to let cattle come in to graze those down,” Banks said. The Guthries also put in a stockwater system, run off a pump by their house. It pro- vides water for their livestock, eliminating the need to access the creek. Teri Murrison, administra- tor of the Idaho Soil and Wa- ter Conservation Commission — the state agency providing engineering support and ield assistance to the project — said the Guthries are exemplary managers of land and resourc- es. “Whenever we’re showcas- ing voluntary conservation, we try to visit their Marsh Creek Project. Improvement in that waterway has been signiicant and the Guthries enjoy showing it off,” she said. Murrison said that they set a good example for their neigh- bors, as well. “They are role models for other landowners. Their story is one of sustained dedication to doing the right thing for the land and for their farm. This kind of stewardship is catching on in the Inkom area,” she said. “Jim and Carol have been amazing people to work with,” Banks said. “They don’t just do a job; they go far above and beyond what they are asked to do. They care about the land, and the people involved, and do everything they can to make everyone happy. They have proven to be tremendous ad- vocates for conservation and land stewardship.”
