The Elk Complex Wildfire of August 2013 will have long-lasting effects on the lower South Fork Boise River.
One short and medium term effect is the focus on recovery after the wildfire. After a year of emergency rehabilitation efforts, including an initial planting effort November 9, 2013, and an August 2014 manipulation of flows to attempt to move sediment, attention now turns to longer-term work on recovering the vegetation along the river corridor.
In mid-September 2014 the Forest Service finalized its decision for the South Fork Boise River Corridor Post-Fire Restoration Project. Implementation was planned to begin in the fall of 2014. Some other things took priority over the recovery project, such as getting a larger culvert on Granite Creek. Plus, it took time for the plants to grow.
TIME FOR A PROJECT
At a minimum, there will be two opportunities to help out this spring. The first event will be on February 28th:
- Volunteers will cut willow cuttings from designated areas along the river.
- These cuttings will be brought to Lucky Peak Nursery and held for us in coolers until a planting day, later in the spring.
- The cutting event is scheduled for next Saturday, the last day in February!
- If you are interested in joining in, please contact Pam Harrington at 345-9800, preferably by Wednesday at latest. Depending how large of a crew we have, we might need to ask folks to bring pruners/loppers.
Don’t worry if you will not make February 28th. There will be additional planting dates, likely late March and mid April.
“At this time we have 3,414 seedlings available to plant this spring,” says Scott Bodle, a wildlife biologist with the Boise National Forest. “About 2/3 are cottonwoods and 1/3 willow. Based on the turn out we had last time your groups came together I believe we could plant the entire amount in a day using volunteers.”
In addition to the seedlings Bodle mentions there will also be the cuttings collected February 28th.
Stay in touch. This is the year we begin some of the recovery work!
