Tincup Creek Restoration

[cpierce]

In some of my adventuring this summer I chanced to stop by Tincup Creek on my way to Wyoming. Much to my surprise it was thick with mud, so I drove up it a little ways to see what was going on with it.

Big equipment and lots of digging was what was going on.



They have started a three year project to restore the meanders and erosion damage to about 4 miles of the creek.

Where they are working and below is really muddy, but much of what they have done is starting to clear up.

Here is a picture of a meander that they have reopened and some other stream repairs in the second picture.





From what I could see, they are doing a beautiful job. Just don't expect a crystal clear stream for a few years.

Here are some links to information on the project:
https://www.tu.org/blog-posts/tu-and-ctn...ative-fish
http://a123.g.akamai.net/7/123/11558/abc...017788.pdf
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[gstott]

Cool! Always nice to see things like this. One of these days I need to get up into Idaho for some small stream exploration.
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[Fishbouy]

here is a time lapse video of the restoration of bottom meander bend completed before the project shut down for the season.

[url "https://www.facebook.com/USFSCaribouTarghee/videos/778820455613449/"]https://www.facebook.com/USFSCaribouTarghee/videos/778820455613449/[/url]
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[cpierce]

Awesome video! I saw some of the work being done, but to see a full section in progress was amazing. Thanks!
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[riverdog]

Thanks for the post. I’ve fished Tincup dozens of times over the years. I have very fond memories as it was were I taught my son to fly fish when he was 8. After 5 minutes of creekside instruction he was telling me he was fine and didn’t need any more help. He caught 10 10-13 inch Cutts in about 40 minutes on a foam hopper. Just had to correct his casting stroke occasionally. Droughts are hard on that creek but most years it’s extremely productive for such as small creek. Erosion was cutting through many of the switchbacks with time. Besides the willows that we’re removed grazing cows clearly were very hard on that section- much more than above the bridge or along the highway downstream.
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