But nothing has worked. To resolve the issue, the federal government may buy out Baker and retire his grazing permit permanently. Before salmon were listed as endangered, the Bonneville Power Administration funded projects that would improve fish and wildlife habitat as part of its effort to make up for the effects of federal dams in the Pacific Northwest. The Northwest Power Planning Council makes recommendations on worthwhile projects, and BPA pays for them. In 1996, the National Marine Fisheries Service determined that the changes the Boise National Forest and Baker had tried were not enough to protect chinook or their habitat.
Elk Creek provides one-third of the chinook in the Middle Fork Salmon River salmon population.
Protecting the habitat for salmon also would benefit steelhead, bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout. The Planning Council asked the Idaho Department of Fish and Game to help put together a project to improve fish habitat in the Elk Creek Allotment, said Scott Grunder of Fish and Game. Fish and Game agree, and the state would see almost 50,000 acres of prime fish habitat protected if the project is approved. Baker would get paid off and see an end to a troublesome allotment. Conditions on the permit that make it not worth grazing.