Analyzing Cycles

Cycles directly control the flow of water, carbon, nitrogen and life.  The water cycle is influenced by various biotic and abiotic factors, from snowpack to public policy.  Personally, the effects of natural cycles also affect my ability... to cycle.  My first encounter with the Boise watershed was in Featherville, just north of Anderson Ranch in the Upper Basin of the Boise watershed.  The Upper Basin is the primary source of precipitation and storage to the Treasure Valley, capturing up to 500% more water each year when compared to the Lower Basin (according to research from MILES).  The goal was to travel from Featherville to Ketchum using FS 227, though Pat from the Featherville Cafe informed me that the road was washed out due to the exceptional snowpack from winter.  The influence of snowpack directly affected the ability to recreate in the Boise watershed, with the abiotic factors of water and geology causing a disruption in the human influence of roads and infrastructure.  Trying to navigate nature creates challenges when unpredictable changes in climate create barriers, particularly in the relative wild of the Upper Basin.  If we try to create infrastructure within the area of influence of the Boise watershed then we must understand how biotic and abiotic factors converge to influence the ecology of the watershed.  Attached is a photo from cycling Trail Creek Summit, on the Eastern fringe of the Sawtooth National Forest, part of the Trail Creek watershed.  

To digital-learners... how does the Boise watershed affect your ability to recreate?  Have you all encountered obstacles cycling, camping, kayaking, rafting or fishing?