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February 2019 Please recycle Connections this newsletter. Environmental Leadership: Daly Creek Work Offers a Look at Idaho Power’s Commitment Standing on the bank of Daly Creek, not block irrigation diversions or flood by combatting noxious weeds and looking upstream to where the creek agricultural land. planting vegetation that benefits disappears beneath sun-dappled Over a century later, resource wildlife and insects. Idaho Power has willows, it’s hard to imagine the scene management has evolved. We now removed miles of internal fencing was dominated by heavy equipment, silt understand confining a creek to a to allow wildlife to move more fences, and a flurry of human activity narrow channel, removing trees and freely within the management area, only months earlier. shrubs from the streambank, and while upgrading external fences to This creek south of Richland, Oregon, diverting water until a creek runs dry reduce trespassing by cattle. Water is one example of Idaho Power’s harms fish and other water-dependent conservation measures include taking ongoing efforts to improve habitat creatures such as frogs and beavers. lands out of agricultural production, on the 11,400 acres of the Daly Creek Overgrazing cattle can damage native switching from flood irrigation to Habitat Management Area. The plants in the summer. When beavers sprinklers, and replacing open ditch company bought this property in are removed, creeks cut deep, unstable irrigation with a pressurized system. 2005 to compensate for impacts to banks that don’t support plants, These steps have decreased water wildlife habitat from the Hells Canyon allowing sediment to fall into the creek. diversions from Daly Creek by an Hydroelectric Project. The combined effect can raise water estimated 50 percent. Today, this stretch of Daly Creek flows temperatures to a point where native In 2016, Idaho Power removed more like it did when the first European species cannot survive. the first of three old diversions on settlers homesteaded the area, drawn Idaho Power’s management at Daly the creek, replacing it with a new by the cool waters that irrigated crops Creek focuses on passive restoration: modern diversion and screen that and livestock in an otherwise dry and avoiding activities that cause damage keeps fish from being carried into unforgiving landscape. and allowing natural systems to flourish. irrigation channels and prevents In 2007, Idaho Power began limiting the creek from drying out. Last Back then, it was common for these fall, the company removed the two hardscrabble settlers to use all the water cattle grazing to late winter through early spring. This has allowed native remaining diversions, restoring the in Daly Creek. The creek was reduced creek channel to a more natural to little more than an irrigation ditch in plants to recolonize the creek banks. Beavers have returned, and these condition and giving fish access to some sections. In others, it became a the full length of the creek. watering hole for cattle. Overgrazing furry engineers continue to expand along the streambank when the heat of their dams. In some areas, Daly Creek Daly Creek may not be exactly as the summer had parched the upland grasses restoration has accelerated with the settlers found it, but Idaho Power occurred year after year, removing establishment of beaver ponds, likely continues to restore this waterway woody vegetation. These changes to benefitting both aquatic and terrestrial and the land around it. Learn more the ecosystem and agricultural pressure wildlife, such as native redband trout at idahopower.com/habitat. all but eliminated beavers from the area. and waterfowl. This ensured their dams and ponds did Our habitat managers are also exploring strategies to re-establish upland habitat idahopower.com Comments about Connections are welcome at idahopower.com • Corporate Communications, P.O. Box 70, Boise, ID 83707 31180-I-0023 Tracking Sturgeon Success Our Fleet is Going Electric – and You Can, Too in the Snake River Imagine cutting your driving costs by Even creatures with a history dating half or more. You could save hundreds back more than 100 million years can of dollars every year. It’s possible when use a helping hand. White sturgeon in you switch to electric vehicles (EVs). the Snake River get plenty of help from “You’ll pay about 95 cents for enough Idaho Power biologists, who track their electricity to drive as far as a gallon of gas numbers, add to their population and In areas of the Snake will take you,” said John Bernardo, Idaho move adults into good spawning areas. River where sturgeon Power’s Sustainability Program Manager. populations are not self-supporting, Idaho In Idaho, the two largest reproducing Those savings are one reason Idaho Power works with Idaho Department populations of white sturgeon are Power is replacing fuel-burning cars, of Fish and Game and the College of below Bliss and Hells Canyon dams. trucks and forklifts with vehicles Southern Idaho (CSI) to raise sturgeon Sturgeon in these areas can live to be powered by electricity. 100 years old, grow up to 10 feet long from naturally produced eggs and larvae. In 2018, Idaho Power added eight and weigh more than 300 pounds. Collecting eggs and larvae directly from the river provides stockable offspring that plug-in hybrid electric pickups and three Idaho Power biologists collaborate with are more genetically diverse and more electric passenger cars. We bought six state and tribal fisheries managers to similar to the wild population. electric forklifts in the past three years, study, protect and enhance Snake River and we plan to add four more in 2019. Egg mats are one tool used to collect sturgeon populations. This includes In the years to come, we’ll continue our eggs for the conservation program. population surveys. Biologists weigh transition toward an electric fleet. and measure the fish, take tissue Picture a 2-foot-square metal frame Besides saving money on fuel, we’re samples for genetic identification, with a furnace filter in the middle. These seeing lower costs for maintenance, and implant tiny electronic tags that mats are placed downstream of known Bernardo said, because EVs have fewer researchers use to identify fish that spawning areas where they collect than half as many mechanical parts as have been previously captured. This fertilized eggs. Biologists take the eggs fuel-powered vehicles. And they don’t enables biologists to track abundance, to the CSI sturgeon hatchery in Twin need as many fluids, like engine oil or growth and survival rates, and other Falls. The fish stay there for about a year transmission fluid. information. until they are about a foot long and can be released back into the river. From Idaho Power customers will benefit from The company also nets (and releases) there, Idaho Power biologists follow their these savings with lower electricity rates. tiny sturgeon during their first or progress in the wild to ensure fish are second year of life to determine how doing well. “We also are doing it to show our much natural reproduction is taking customers these things work; they’re place in key areas. The last two years, Another important tactic is moving reliable, and it’s a good idea to switch with ample snowpack and high river reproductive adult fish from below over,” Bernardo said. flows, have been good for sturgeon C.J. Strike Dam upstream to more favorable spawning habitat in the Another important benefit of EVs is that spawning according to Ken Lepla, Idaho they don’t produce tailpipe emissions, Power’s lead sturgeon biologist. Bliss reach of the Snake River. Learn more at idahopower.com/fish. Idaho Power is sensitive to the impact its operations have on the environment, so reducing emissions, including carbon emissions, is important to us. From The Electric Kitchen February 2019 And because about half of Idaho Dinner Power’s electricity comes from clean Mixed-up Cuban Beans and Rice hydroelectric power, charging an electric vehicle is cleaner than driving a gas- 3 Tbsp olive oil 2 cans low-sodium black beans Dietary information: ½ medium red onion, chopped 1 cup mango, cubed powered car or truck. Learn more at Calories: 250 1 large bell pepper, chopped ½ cup pineapple, chopped Fat: 6.6g idahopower.com/EV. 1 tsp cumin 1 cup frozen, shelled edamame Carbohydrate: 36g ¼ tsp oregano 1 cup brown, long-grain rice Protein: 12.2g 2 cloves garlic, minced Salt and pepper to taste Sodium: 61mg Fiber: 10.4g 1 can fire-roasted diced tomatoes Fresh cilantro, chopped Potassium: 558mg Cook rice according to package directions. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium. Add Recipes are selected for nutritional value and low onion and bell pepper, sautéing until softened, approx. 7 minutes. Add cumin and garlic, energy use in preparation. cook and stir until very fragrant, approx. 5 min. Add tomatoes, beans, fruit and edamame. They are approved by Registered Dietitian Erin Bring to a simmer, cover and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt, Green from the Central pepper and oregano. Serve cup of rice with ¾ cup bean mixture. Top with cilantro. District Health Department Makes approx. 8 servings. in Boise..