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BEN MILLER
Buffalo River, ID 1/21/22
Endangered Rivers Series
acrylic on polycarbonate
36 x 48 inches

On a cold clear Idaho day, in the bowels of winter, the eight mile long Buffalo River boils out of the ground and descends to meet the Henry’s Fork River just outside of Island Park. The slowness of the current lends itself to slower, rounded hits, that were undeniable coming off of the sun’s reflection on the surface of the gin clear water. A slight growth of weeds in the slower stretches of flow sets the tone for a loose monochrome of earth toned green and a dispersion of umber sediment. This painting is the first one of having to dig out the snow that was waist deep to get down to the river and set up the easel. Trout began rising at two o’clock and didn’t stop into the evening hours. The trees across the way cast a shadow across the stream as the sun descended to bring about the crispness of night.

The Biologist working on the Buffalo River are studying the effects of algae and monitoring the shifting food sources for trout. There has been a noticeable decline in the average size of trout coming from the water. The Buffalo River used to be affected more by the pollutants from agriculture but now has a grasp on the situation for years to come.