Out and about: Hiking, reservoirs, fishing and Christmas trees

HIKING

CONDITIONS ARE GOOD ON FOOTHILLS TRAILS: Most trails in the Boise Foothills are in good condition for mountain biking and hiking, according to the Southwest Idaho Mountain Bike Association. However, some around Table Rock are muddy.

Check out www.ridgetorivers. org for details.

RESERVOIRS

BLACK CANYON WILL BE DRAWN DOWN: The Bureau of Reclamation will be performing maintenance work that requires the lake level behind Black Canyon Diversion Dam to be drawn down about 30 feet. Black Canyon Diversion Dam is on the Payette River about five miles northeast of Emmett.

Maintenance crews will be making concrete repairs to the upstream face of the dam as well as improvements to the trashrack intake structure at the dam. Water levels are expected to remain low until January.

"This is a routine maintenance project that is necessary to ensure the continued safe operation of the dam," said Robert Adams, Reclamation facility manager. "The lower lake level is essential to reach areas that would normally be under water."

FISHING

TEAM USA MEMBERS WILL TEACH AT FLY FISHING CLINIC: Bret Bishop and Pete Erickson, members of Flyfishing Team USA, are offering a clinic on European-style nymphing from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

Cost is $65, and the clinic is limited to 12 people. The site hasn't been determined.

The clinic will be in a classroom and will include a complete overview of European nymphing techniques, including Czech, Polish, French and Spanish nymphing. This three- hour session will include instruction on fly tying and leader construction.

After the clinic there will be fishing on the Boise River.

To register, call 867-8038 or e-mail bretbishop@flyfishingteamusa.net or 863-1197 or ericksonfishing@yahoo.com

CHRISTMAS TREES

SAWTOOTH PERMITS AVAILABLE: Christmas trees for personal or family use from the Sawtooth National Forest will be available starting Friday.

The permits cost $5 and allow a family to choose and cut a tree up to 10 feet tall. "If people want a tree that is 11 to 20 feet high, the cost is $10," said Karl Fuelling of the Sawtooth National Forest.

Permits are available at forest offices in Ketchum, Burley, Twin Falls, Fairfield and Stanley.

Statesman staff