THE 1995 FLOOD
AND
ITS AFTERMATH



     A significant flood event occurred in the upper (south) part of Jarbidge Canyon in June of 1995. A late, heavy snowfall blanketed the Jarbidge Range, covering it with several feet of wet snow. Two days after the massive snowfall, warm rains melted the snow pack and huge volumes of water poured into the canyon. Roads were washed away in several places and considerable damage was done to properties in the town of Jarbidge. Some homes were saved only through heroic efforts by the townspeople. Portions of the South Canyon Road (a total of 1,450 feet) were washed away.

     Those who have been to Jarbidge know that the economy of the town is entirely dependent upon visitors, not only from Nevada but also from other states and foreign countries. Four campgrounds, many fine fishing places, and the most beautiful part of the canyon were cut off from public access when the South Canyon Road was damaged. This, of course, meant that campers, anglers, and backpackers could no longer enjoy the places that were isolated by the flood and the damage it caused.
     Jarbidge residents and business people immediately notified the U.S. Forest Service of the damage inflicted on the South Canyon Road and asked that agency to come to the town and survey the situation. The Forest Service came to Jarbidge, examined the roadway that had been washed out, and promised to repair the road as quickly as possible. First estimates were that the road would be repaired by the summer of 1997. Engineering and environmental studies would have to be conducted and monies would have to be allocated. In 1996, the people of Jarbidge were told that $1 million had been set aside to do the work required, but more studies would have to be done and final approval obtained.

     In July of 1997, representatives of the Forest Service again met with the people of Jarbidge and stated that all preliminary studies had been completed and the road would be restored by the summer of 1998.

     The summer of 1998 arrived on schedule and the Forest Service again met with the townspeople. District Ranger David Aicher stunned the people of Jarbidge when he announced that he had decided not to reopen the South Canyon Road! He denied accusations of the townspeople that other govern-mental agencies or environmental groups were involved in the decision-making process. It was discovered later that several environmental organizations, including Trout Unlimited, Inc. and the Sierra Club had put great pressure on the District Ranger to stop any work that might be done toward restoration of the South Canyon Road.

     The environmentalists cited the bull trout as a valid reason for leaving the road closed. They argued that the species was barely surviving in the Jarbidge River Basin, although tens of thousands of these fish live in other streams in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. They said the bull trout should be protected from the mud and debris that would surely be put in the river by the road recon-struction work. On August 12, 1998,Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt was visiting Lake Tahoe where he was expressing his concern about pollution in that body of water. When told of the South Canyon Road situation, Mr. Babbitt insisted that the bull trout be protected. He referred the matter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. That agency promptly took action to put the bull trout on the endangered species list in the Jarbidge River Basin only! This action by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service effectively stopped any and all work on the South Canyon Road for a period of 240 days. During that time, further studies of the road restoration project and its potential effects on the bull trout population will be conducted and comments from the public will be received and considered.

     It is interesting to note that the Forest Service intends to take heavy equipment into the Jarbidge River to remove two bridges and campground facilities when they close the road forever. Removing the bridges and toilet facilities, as planned by the U.S. Forest Service, would do much greater damage to the stream than rebuilding the road. Spring floods carry thousands of tons of mud and debris into the stream each year.

     Jarbidge residents have little hope that their lifeline will be restored. They fear the loss of at least half of their income from visitors will be lost if the road is not rebuilt. They are writing to their Congressmen and to state and local officials in an effort to preserve the way of life they have come to love in Jarbidge, Nevada…the most remote inhabited town in the 48 contiguous states.