Big Wood River Drainage

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The Wood River basin has a drainage area of over 2,990 square miles. Major drainages in the Wood River system are the Big Wood and Little Wood rivers. At its lower end, the Big Wood River is also known as Malad River. Flows from the Wood River drainage are controlled for irrigation and flood control by four major reservoirs: Magic, Little Wood River, Fish Creek, and Mormon. Approximately 144,000 acres are irrigated from reservoir storage and other diversions. Recent hydroelectric power developments are currently in operation at Magic Dam, Little Wood River Dam, the confluence of the Big Wood and Little Wood rivers, the Little Wood near Shoshone, and the Malad River dams. Additional hydropower facilities are proposed for the Malad River near the Malad Gorge State Park.

This drainage contains the most productive trout streams, lake, and reservoir habitat in south central Idaho. Nearly all the major rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, and ponds are suitable for trout.

Good populations of warmwater game fish are found in many waters of the Wood River drainage, mainly in reservoirs, lakes, and ponds. The principal warmwater fish species present are yellow perch, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and bluegill.

There are 16 alpine lakes which support fish in this drainage. These lakes are all relatively productive.

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Written and compiled by Jacqueline Harvey 1999.