Daly Creek

Idaho Power purchased the 10,000-acre Daly Creek property, south of Richland, Ore., in December, 2005 as part of relicensing the Hells Canyon Complex.

It is one of several Hells Canyon properties in Idaho and Oregon, which eventually will total over 24,000 acres. Daly Creek and its facilities serve as Idaho Power’s headquarters for managing all of our habitat enhancement lands.

Comprehensive Management Plan Under Development

Idaho Power is developing a comprehensive management plan for our habitat enhancement lands in consultation with state and federal resource agencies. The primary goal is to protect and enhance the integrity of natural resources. The properties will be managed to provide multiple public uses, if those uses are compatible with wildlife habitat management objectives.

The plan will include considerations for livestock grazing, farming, riparian and upland habitat enhancement, public education and access, and fishery and water quality improvements.

Land Management Activities, Public Access

Land management activities on the Daly Creek property have focused on property stewardship, improving infrastructure, cleanup, fence construction and removal, weed control and initiating pilot habitat improvement projects.

Until the plan is implemented, most Daly Creek lands will remain closed to public entry with the exception of the regulated youth hunter program. However, there are several developed access points open to the public surrounding the Powder River Pool at Brownlee Reservoir. These sites provide access to lands previously owned by Idaho Power, before the purchase of the adjacent Daly Creek property.

Habitat Improvements

We have already initiated many habitat enhancement projects on the Daly Creek property including:

• Developing about 95 acres of wildlife food plots to benefit a variety of species (e.g., waterfowl, upland and migratory birds, and wintering big game especially mule deer)
• Developing an efficient, water-use pressurized irrigation system to keep more water in Daly Creek for fish and riparian species
• Conducting revegetation projects on more than 130 acres to restore degraded rangelands to perennial grasses, forbs (broad-leafed plants) and shrubs.

Examples planned and ongoing improvements:

• Treating hundreds of acres to control noxious and invasive weeds
• Removing miles of interior fences to facilitate wildlife movement
• Changing out the flood irrigation system to a pressurized, automatic system that is less labor intensive and conserves water
• Initiating habitat improvement projects such as food plots, shelterbelts and restoration of native habitat
• Annual monitoring of riparian vegetation, water temperature, fish populations and water flow to document changes along Daly Creek and other tributaries on the property.