IDFG: Priest River is a river in need

Not all rivers are created equal, according to Idaho Department of Fish & Game officials. Some, like the St. Joe River, feature a great habitat and reliably cold water, resulting in robust coldwater fish populations, such as westslope cutthroat and bull trout. However, others, like the Priest River, are not so fortunate, T.J. Ross, a communications manager for Idaho Department of Fish and Game. For decades, Priest River has suffered from warm water temperatures during the summer months. Coldwater fish and warm water don’t mix well, and that reality came to a head in July 2021 with an unprecedented fish kill, Ross said.