Fishing reservoir to open

There’s something fishy about North Idaho’s newest reservoir.

It wasn’t built for power generation or irrigation or municipal water supplies or livestock.

Deer Creek Reservoir northeast of Orofino was built specifically for fishing.

Deer Creek is a small tributary of Dworshak Reservoir. Backed up behind a dam built in the past two years, the 80-acre lake is the first new water developed specifically for fishing in Idaho since 1964, said Mike Demick, Idaho Fish and Game Department spokesman in Lewiston.

The lake has been created in a forested valley in cooperation with Potlatch Corp, which owns the land, Demick said. Officials from the state, Potlatch and area communities joined on Saturday to dedicate the site, which has a boat ramp and restroom facilities.

“Volunteers have already been up there doing work, like planting native shrubs on the disturbed sites,” said Demick. The reservoir is expected to be a boon to the economies of the areas’ small towns.

The lake has been stocked with about 10,000 catchable-size rainbow and cutthroat trout, Demick said. “New reservoirs are notorious for being especially nutrient rich and productive for several years after they are filled,” he said. “These fish should grow very fast.”

Fishing at the lake is open year round. However, motorized vehicle access will be prohibited in the last half mile or so to the lake from Oct. 1 through May 19 or so each year in an agreement with Potlatch to prevent resource damage and offer more security for elk, Demick said.

Total cost for the project is about $910,000, he said.

“That’s a lot of money, but every angler who buys an Idaho fishing license contributes a percentage to a fund earmarked for improvements to fishing or fishing access. The department looks around the state for priority areas. Because of the cooperation from Potlatch, this is an opportunity we couldn’t pass up,” Demick said, noting that discussions for the project started about 10 years ago.

“We don’t get opportunities for new fisheries very often. The last lake developed with fishing license money was Spring Valley Reservoir near Troy.”

Improved by volunteers from Troy and Moscow, Spring Valley become one of the most heavily used fishery for its size in the entire state, he said, noting the lake is stocked with rainbows and also has bluegills and bass.

A report by the American Sportfishing Association estimates that fishing in Idaho created 7,773 jobs and generated nearly $30 million in Idaho taxes, said Steve Huffaker, Idaho Fish and Game director. In 2001, anglers contributed $681 million to the Idaho economy, he said.

To reach Deer Creek Reservoir from U.S. Highway 12 between Orofino and Kamiah, turn north at Greer onto State Highway 11. Drive through Weippe and Pierce toward Headquarters. About two miles before reaching Headquarters, turn right between mileposts 40 and 41 onto Deer Creek Road and go about two miles to the reservoir.