Boundary Creek Road Bridge construction and closure schedule update

SALMON, Idaho (KIFI) — The Salmon-Challis National Forest has implemented an emergency road closure (#04-13-22-511) to protect public health and safety during removal of the existing culvert and installation of an aquatic organism passage bridge on the Boundary Dagger Road #568 at the Dagger Creek crossing.

Boundary Boat Ramp, Dagger Falls Campground and associated trails will be inaccessible during that time.

Reservation holders with launches on those dates should plan on accessing the Middle Fork via Indian Creek or other points downstream of Boundary Creek. 

Beavers have been plugging culverts on the Boundary Creek Road where Dagger Creek passes under the road for several years. This has caused road damage from flooding and at times the road has been impassable. Replacing these culverts with a bridge will prevent future flooding and road damage, as well as benefit fish and wildlife. 

With the recent Ramshorn debris flow four miles downstream from Boundary Creek Boat Launch impeding boater traffic and causing most boaters to launch from Indian Creek or other launch sites downstream of the debris flow, the Forest Service decided to take advantage of this timing and minimize impacts to visitors and replace the culverts with a bridge in late September and early October. This will avoid a closure of the Boundary Road next year during the height of the summer boating season. The Forest Service is hopeful that next year’s spring runoff and highwater will clear the Ramshorn debris flow and logjams in the upper section of the river which would mean that the upper section of the river would be more easily floated, and more people would be launching from Boundary Creek Boat Launch next summer. 

Described Roads: The portion of National Forest System Road (NFSR) #568 Boundary Dagger Road from its intersection with Bruce Meadows Campground to its north terminus.

This order will be in effect from Sept. 30, 2022 and shall remain in effect until Oct. 19, 2022.