I made a thread a few days ago asking about the status of the spillway, but I figured it was important enough to make a new thread. I contacted Idaho Power through their web site feedback form asking about the closure. Here's the response I received today:
Quote:Thank you for contacting us about the spillway access at Idaho Power’s C.J. Strike Dam. Access was restricted last year initially due to sturgeon population monitoring, and later because of repairs being made to a spill gate. Sturgeon monitoring required placement of sensitive instruments and the spill gate maintenance required heavy equipment operation and concrete work, which created an area unsuitable for recreation access.
For some time, federal regulatory agencies as well as our own personnel, have expressed concern for public safety and facility security at C.J. Strike. The decision was made to permanently close off access to the hydroelectric facility. This position is in alignment with regulations at other facilities nationwide. We understand this area has been popular with anglers for many years. However, we are confident that extensive improvements made to the parks, boating facilities, and the C.J. Strike Wildlife Management Area will continue to provide ample opportunities for angling.
We intend to install signs and update our website to reflect the change.
I hope this helps
Basically, shore anglers are going to lose their only access point to deeper water. The other public access points are either on shallow flats or have dropoffs beyond casting distance.
What really cheeses me off is the fact they didn't even make an announcement or ask for public input beforehand. I have written back requesting contact information for whoever we can contact to protest the decision.
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there is plenty of deep water shore access. You just have to walk to get to it. Cove Arm for example holds fish year round (crappie, perch, trout, bluegill). There is also pretty deep holes in the Cove Rec area. Its not the end of the world. I can understand why they would want to block it off for the safety of the spillway and the folks living down river.
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Maybe I should have said "easy access". What about people who can't walk far or are confined to wheelchairs? Or people who don't have cars capable of handling those nasty rutted roads that fill with two feet of water when it rains? Guess they're screwed.
I don't see why people fishing from the dam would be an issue for people living downriver. The spillway walkway is on the reservoir side of the dam. AFAIK, the area immediately below the dam is still open.
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[quote StacyR]Maybe I should have said "easy access". What about people who can't walk far or are confined to wheelchairs? Guess they're screwed.[/quote]
Again Cove Rec....There are paths down to docks that will put you within easy casting distance of 25-30 feet of water. Plus you will have bathrooms and picnic shelters right there to take a break in. The only downside is having to fork over $2 for the eminities
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StacyR, the matter of public safety (if someone should fall off the walkway) combined with public security issues (it would be rather simple for a couple of guys to pack a bomb big enough to blow out the gates there) should be enough to warrant the closure. After 9-11 almost every dam in the country was closed off.
I appreciate your concern, but I wouldn't get too wrapped around the axle if you don't get the results or answers you are looking for. Definitely worth asking the questions though.
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At Palasaes Res. they built a multi-millon dollor bridge 1/4 mile below the dam so they could close the road across the dam . For security reasons ? Curt G.
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[quote curt69]At Palasaes Res. they built a multi-millon dollor bridge 1/4 mile below the dam so they could close the road across the dam . For security reasons ? Curt G.[/quote]
Thats a negatory sir. They closed the road that went around the base and to the little park that sat between the power house and the irrigation tubes for security reasons. They are having to shut down the road around the top due to problems with a section of the top road that has sluffing problems and there is no way to fix the sluffing problems long term. There was a big portion two springs ago that sank down over a foot. The bridge is so that they can maintain access over the bear creek area.
As far as CJ strike it was just the inevitable that it get shut down for security reasons. Almost every dam in the country has seen those types of restrictions.
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When was the last time a dam was blown up by terrorists in this country? Like, never? If terrorists are really that anxious to blow up the dam at Strike, closing a gate is not going to stop them. They would load explosives into a boat or place them below the dam, which has a park that's still open AFAIK. You can drive within 10 feet of the generators and up to the base of one of the spillway gates, for pete's sake.
Besides, if terrorists want to bomb a dam in Idaho and do some real damage, they're not going to hit C.J. Strike. They'd bomb Lucky Peak, which is right above Boise and has a road running right across the top of the dam. I heard from friends it was closed for awhile after 9-11 and the ACoE must have decided it wasn't a huge concern since it's back open again.
The spillway at Strike was one of the safest places to go night fishing, since it's always lighted. We used to go out and fish off the dam in the middle of the night during the winter and catch limits on trout and enough perch to fill a cooler.
Public safety my butt. You would really have to work hard to fall off since it's fenced on both sides. I'm more worried about slipping on the rocks at the park below the dam, which again they still let people do.
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[quote StacyR]When was the last time a dam was blown up by terrorists in this country? Like, never? [/quote]
I found a little tour guide to the Little Lost River Valley. A long time ago somebody made a big dam across Dry Creek and the farmers objected and blew it up with dynamite. You can still see part of the dam there.
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I always remember C.J. Strike Out.
But, even with the right people. I enjoyed there company. Nice fish in there and below. The monster's are down below.
Idaho
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It was only a matter of time after 911 like most have said above they set back and looked at there weak points and made changes. I worked at minadoka for almost 3 years doing security why they made improvements and changes that fortified the dam compound. I hated the changes but had to enforce them and and being a fisherman made it that much tougher. Just a word of warning if they post signs please don't risk entry as i know from my experience of working there trespassing on a government installation can cost you two years of hunting and fishing as well as a little jail time. More than likely they have cameras that can read a license plate or put a face to a name from over a 1000 yards and if they don't they soon will.
you can protest and express your concerns but they will fall on deaf ears under a lot of laws developed by homeland security it just doesn't matter [
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The allies figured out in WWII that it is nearly impossible to blow up an earthen dam. True you don't hear about dams being blown up, but planes as missiles was unheard of also. Also don't forget Bin Laden was a rich kid, he understood and I'm sure he passed on causing economic turmoil is much more destructive than killing some people.Sucks it is closed but we live in Idaho, we have so much more access to land than other people.
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[quote StacyR]When was the last time a dam was blown up by terrorists in this country? Like, never? If terrorists are really that anxious to blow up the dam at Strike, closing a gate is not going to stop them. They would load explosives into a boat or place them below the dam, which has a park that's still open AFAIK. You can drive within 10 feet of the generators and up to the base of one of the spillway gates, for pete's sake.
Besides, if terrorists want to bomb a dam in Idaho and do some real damage, they're not going to hit C.J. Strike. They'd bomb Lucky Peak, which is right above Boise and has a road running right across the top of the dam. I heard from friends it was closed for awhile after 9-11 and the ACoE must have decided it wasn't a huge concern since it's back open again.
The spillway at Strike was one of the safest places to go night fishing, since it's always lighted. We used to go out and fish off the dam in the middle of the night during the winter and catch limits on trout and enough perch to fill a cooler.
Public safety my butt. You would really have to work hard to fall off since it's fenced on both sides. I'm more worried about slipping on the rocks at the park below the dam, which again they still let people do.[/quote]
Long time one has broke but considering the problems after I can understand the concern. If you need a reminder, look up after the Teton Dam broke for a refresher.
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