The Courier
NEWS Gooding Wins Water Award
Every morning we wake up with certain expectations - one of those being water from the faucet. But... getting that water to your home takes a lot of work, as does making sure that water is drinkable. Each year, the Idaho Rural Water Association (IRWA) recognizes that hard work with a special award. This year's 'Drinking Water System of the Year' was given to the City of Gooding. This award recognizes the city's exceptional efforts in properly managing, operating, and maintaining its drinking water system. Safe and readily available water is important for public health whether it is used for drinking, food production, putting out fires, or taking waste away from our home. Gooding has made many upgrades in its effort to better manage water supply. One of their biggest improvements being its meter reading. They acquired and installed approximately 1200 Meter Transceiver Units that transmit a remote signal reporting water usage. This shortens the meter reading time by a day and a half each month and has saved the city and community over $300,000. IRWA also assisted the city in developing a GIS mapping system to help locate water lines, manholes, fire hydrants, and valves. Of course, none of this would happen without the five members of the city crew who are often out in the middle of the night and cold weather fixing things that go wrong. The City of Gooding is proud to have Jase Stockham, Glen Neal, Paul Childs, Pam Jones and Noel Edwards working for our community.
US-93 Pavement Rehabilitation Project in Twin Falls
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) will resurface two sections of U.S. Highway 93 through Twin Falls this spring and summer. Work is expected to begin the week of March 21 on Pole Line Road from Grandview Drive to Blue Lakes Boulevard to maintain the roadway, provide better traction and enhance safety for motorists. Work will occur overnight from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. to reduce impacts and congestion during commute hours for residents, businesses, and motorists. During night work, lane reductions will be in place. All lanes will be open during daytime hours. Access to businesses will be maintained but may be briefly limited when equipment moves in front of an intersection or driveway. This project is expected to be completed in May.
News from the Heart of Idaho Camas • Lincoln • Gooding
March 23, 2022
Vol 46 Num 12
Dust Off Your Fishing Rod
By Connor Liess, Public Information Specialist
Old man winter is finally hitting the bricks, and as the temperatures creep up, fish get a little more active and Idaho Fish and Game stocking trucks start delivering more fish across the state. Maybe ol’ Saint Nick delivered a new fishing pole to a kid during Christmas, or your trusty old fishing rod has been stuck in the rafters since last year, but either way, the time is here to get out on the water and try to catch some fish. Spring fishing is an exceptional opportunity for anglers new to the sport or seasoned anglers wanting to get back on the water with their friends or families. Trout are a favorite quarry in early spring because they remain active year round, but they perk up as water starts to warm after the cold winter. Fish and Game stocks tens of thousands of trout for anglers every month, and spring and early summer are the busiest time of year for hatchery crews. But trout aren’t the only type of fishing available. Warmwater fishing can bounce back remarkably fast with a streak of warm, sunny weather, and many other species, such as perch, crappie and bluegill, become very active during spring. A good rule of thumb is fish like warming or stable weather during spring, but fishing tends to fall off when there’s a cold spell. With so many fishing opportunities near Idaho’s cities and towns, spring is a good chance to check out your local waters. Not sure where to go fishing? Check out these easily accessible and regularly stocked lakes and ponds in the Magic Valley.
Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir This large, high-desert reservoir is about 35 miles south of Twin Falls, and is probably best known for its walleye and rainbow trout fishing. Bell Rapids (Snake River near Hagerman) The Bell Rapids stretch of the Snake River is great for largemouth or smallmouth bass. West of Hagerman, the upper reach of Bell Rapids can be accessed at the Hagerman boat launch or downstream at the end of Pioneer Road off of Highway 30, just north of Hagerman. Magic Reservoir This high-desert reservoir is fed by the waters of the Big Wood River and because it was constructed to provide irrigation for local agricultural operations, the water levels fluctuate throughout the summer.