Forest Service seeks to improve Kirkum hot springs use & management
The South Fork of the Payette River flows next to Kirkham hot springs. Photo credit: Tess McEnroe for IRU
The Forest Service met on Thursday, May 5th to hold a public pre-scoping meeting discussing potential management changes to the popular Kirkham hot springs on Highway 21 a few miles outside of Lowman in central Idaho. Anyone who has visited the springs, or driven by in recent years, has probably noticed the growing traffic and use that this popular hot spring has been gaining.
Directly on the banks of the South Fork Payette River, these springs, and potential impacts by visitors, have broader potential impacts than the immediate management and condition of the hot spring site itself. The South Fork Payette is eligible for designation under the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act. The springs are located between two very popular river segments that are utilized by both commercial and private boaters alike. The upper canyon in particular is remarkable for the remote feeling and setting boaters experience while still being a roadside accessible stretch.
With the increase in popularity and use, there has also been an increase in vandalism, trampling of native vegetation through social trails, and a significant amount of garbage being left behind by visitors. Following these unfortunate trends, the Forest Service has closed the main gate and closed the site to overnight use while still allowing visitors to soak at the springs from 7am- 9pm for a $5 per vehicle day-use fee.
This is not the first instance of increased pressure resulting in a lack of access to some of Idaho’s hot springs. In 2016, a popular hot spring near Banks called “Skinny Dipper,” was closed and has yet to reopen to public access. Skinny Dipper saw similar misuse that is being witnessed at Kirkham; trash left by visitors, degradation of vegetation, and increased pressure on a small first responders unit.
Recent funding for deferred maintenance was received through the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). Through this funding, the Forest Service is exploring improvements to the site including additional staffing, general infrastructure maintenance, trail building and rehabilitation, new signage, additional toilets and changing rooms, potential changes to garbage disposal, the possible addition of a group shelter and reservable picnic area, and a general redesign of the facility to better accommodate the change to a day-use only location.
Currently, with the closure of the main gate, there is an immediate need for new signage to direct visitors to the fee station that is located inside the main entrance after seeing a sharp drop in fee collection following the gate closure. The Forest Service is also exploring new opportunities to collect fees electronically.
In the short term, the Forest Service is actively looking for a volunteer campground host to help alleviate some of these stressors. A full list of proposed changes can be viewed through the project page, as well as links to stay up to date on this project as it moves forward. Idaho Rivers United will continue to keep our members and the public informed on how to comment and protect these remarkable springs, once the comment period opens in early June.
