BOISE — In 20 years, the Chinook salmon in Idaho may lose a critical home for spawning in Central Idaho.
A new study by University of Idaho researchers predicted that Bear Valley Creek, a stream that flows into the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, will drop by nearly half by 2040, and by nearly three-quarters by the end of the century.
Warmer temperatures cause snow to melt earlier in the spring, providing less water for salmon in the summer. And for salmon, cold, freshwater streams are an important home. Smaller streamflow means smaller salmon habitats.
