Volunteer for Habitat Restoration in Idaho

After Sagebrush and Bitterbrush Post-Fire Monitoring at Mile Marker 14 Fire - Idaho Department of Fish and Game Boise River Wildlife Management Area

Get Involved!
​Current Volunteer Opportunities for Habitat Restoration and Trail Maintenance in Idaho
and 
Idaho Agencies and Organizations that offer Volunteer Habitat Restoration Activities

Latest Habitat Restoration News

• Common Land Podcast on Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area
• Idaho Fish and Game Volunteer Restoration Program - Year 2019 in Review - Summarizes areas/projects/people involved in restoration

• ​"Leader of the Weed Warriors" - an article about Martha Brabec, Foothills Restoration Specialist, Boise Parks and Recreation in FOCUS on Boise State University

Idaho Department of Fish and Game Southwest Region

Contact:  Michael Young - 208 854-8985
                      or Karie Pappani - 208 854-8993 to sign up for projects 
 ​                     michael.young@idfg.idaho.gov  
                      karie.pappani@idfg.idaho.gov

Below are current Habitat Restoration Volunteer Activities for Idaho Fish and Game

Due to COVID-19 virus, IDFG has canceled all spring group volunteer activities due to latest health recommendations until further notice.
​For more Information on Volunteer Projects, contact Karie Pappani or Michael Young, ( above), or email:
swregionvolunteercoordinators@gmail.com.

Idaho Fish and Game website:  article "Volunteers Needed for Spring Seedling Planting in Southwest Idaho."


Saturday, April 4, 2020
We will be enhancing wildlife habitat by hand-planting native shrubs in areas in need of restoration. Location: Weiser Cove east of Weiser, ID. Meet at 8 AM at the MK Nature Center, 8:45 AM at the Nampa Regional Office or 9:45 at the Maverick Gas Sation on Hwy 95 in Payette. Plan to return to Boise between 3-5 PM.
Register

Cascade Strand Project - Riparian Habitat Restoration
Bank stabilization with native shrub and tree plantings, willow weavings and barbs on streambanks along the N.F. Payette River near Cascade.
Saturday, April 25th, and May 9th.
Contact Michael or Karie (above)

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Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area 
For more information:   
Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey
National Conservation Area
208-384-3335

​Land Trust of the Treasure Valley
To sign up for a project, click on:   lttv.org/volunteer 

Golden Eagle Audubon Society

Idaho Trails Association
 - For a schedule of volunteer trail projects for 2020:  Idaho Trails Association Trails Projects
Contact:  trails@idahotrailsassociation

​Links to Ecological Restoration
Websites

• Id​​aho Native Plants  
• National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration - BLM
• ​International Network for Seed-based Restoration
• Seeds of Success - BLM
• Plant Conservation Alliance​​
• Idaho Native Plant Society
• ​Rare and Cultural Plant Conservation - BLM
• Treasure Valley Native Plant Network (NPN)
• ​The Great Basin Native Plant Project

​Habitat Restoration Research and Articles

• 2019 Biocrust lichen and moss species most suitable for restoration projects. Restoration Ecology.
• 2019 Grazing disturbance promotes exotic annual grasses by degrading soil biocrust communities. 
• Biological soil crust diversity and Composition in Southwest Idaho_2019.​

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​Idaho Organizations that offer Volunteer Opportunities
​for Habitat Restoration

Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area

For more info:
Dirk Anderson, Jr.
Environmental Education and Stewardship Coordinator
Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area
dirk@bogusbasin.org
(208) 781-2691

Idaho Department of Fish and Game - SW Region Volunteer Program
         
Contact:  Michael Young 
Contact:  Karie Pappani 
109 W. 44th St., Garden City, Idaho 83714
(208) 327-7095
https://idfg.idaho.gov/volunteer
 
         Volunteer activities

•      Planting for fire rehabilitation  
•      Sage grouse lek rehabilitation
•      Sagebrush seed collection    
•      Snake River clean-up
•      Riparian habitat restoration
•      Wood duck nest box maintenance       
•      Boise RiverSweep

Idaho Department of Fish and Game – Boise River Wildlife Management Area

Contact:  Peter Ott
Senior Wildlife Technician  
13000 East Highway 21, Boise, ID 83716
(208) 334-2115​
peter.ott@idfg.idaho.gov

​​
Idaho Department of Fish and Game - Idaho Master Naturalist Program
 
The Idaho Master Naturalist Program aims to develop a corps of well-informed volunteers to actively work toward stewardship of Idaho’s natural environment.
An Idaho Master Naturalist completes 40 hours of hands-on, experiential training about Idaho’s ecology, plants, animals and natural systems. 
 
Contact:  Sara Focht - Wildlife Educator
(208) 287-2906.
sara.focht@idfg.idaho.gov 
https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/sites/Wildlife/IDMasterNaturalist
 
 
Jim Hall Foothills Learning Center
Boise Parks and Recreation Department

The Jim Hall Foothills Learning Center focuses on education and information about the Boise foothills and the surrounding high-desert environment.  Annually, the Jim Hall Foothills Learning Center serves over 10,000 students and community members, offering environmental education programs designed to ignite interest in natural resources, science, and Idaho's cultural and ecological heritage.  In addition to education programs, JHFLC houses the City of Boise's Foothills Open Space Division and the Ridge to Rivers Program. Together, all of these programs are working to protect our foothills and keep them accessible to the community.
Contact:   Foothills Learning Center
(208) 493-2534


World Center for Birds of Prey

The Peregrine Fund applies its experience and understanding of Peregrine Falcon restoration to raptor conservation efforts on behalf of more than 100 species in 65 countries worldwide.  Its mission:

• Restore rare species through captive breeding and releases
• Improve capacity for local conservation
• Conduct scientific research and environmental education
• Conserve habitat

Contact:  Jessica Gordon - Volunteer Coordinator
gordon.jessica@peregrinefund.org
www.peregrinefund.org/volunteer

 
The Nature Conservancy Idaho Volunteer Program

The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people.
http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/idaho/get-involved/index.htm

 
Bureau of Land Management – Idaho State Office
​Contact:  Anne Halford, BLM State Botanist
Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner
1387 S. Vinnell Way
Boise, ID 83709
(208) 373-3940​
ahalford@blm.gov

 
Land Trust of Treasure Valley

​Conserves the natural, scenic, recreational, historic and agricultural values of Southwestern Idaho's open spaces.
​Spring and fall trail maintenance in the Treasure Valley
Contact:  Eric Willadsen - Stewardship  Coordinator– ewilladsen@Ittv.org
https://www.lttv.org/
(208) 345 1452
​
 
Selway-Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation

-  A community of wilderness-minded and hardworking individuals dedicated to bringing citizens and youth to wilderness to work, live, and play.  Formed in 2005, SBFC helps steward the 4 million acre Selway-Bitterroot Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, across Idaho and Montana.
-  Maintain and protect wilderness trails
http://www.selwaybitterroot.org/getinvolved/
Map of past projects


Idaho Trails Association
​Promotes continued enjoyment of Idaho's hiking trails with Volunteer Projects
 2020 Trail Projects
​

Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area 

The Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area (NCA) was established by Congress in 1993 to protect a unique desert environment that supports North America’s highest density of nesting raptors. More than 700 pairs of raptors nest each spring along 81 miles of the Snake River Canyon, including 150-200 pairs of Prairie Falcons (highest breeding density in the world.
Contact:  Corrine Coffman
Environmental Education Specialist 
208-384-3485
ccoffman@blm.gov


Idaho Conservation League

​Wilderness Stewardship Program
​Contact:  bmizell@idahoconservation.org


Friends of Deer Flat Wildlife Refuge

13751 Upper Embankment Rd.
Nampa, ID 83686
​To promote, protect, and provide resources to preserve and enhance Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge for the enjoyment of present and future generations.
Contact:  Visitor Center:  208-467-9278
deerflat@fws.gov
​

Boise Parks and Recreation - Foothills and Open Space

Vo-Learn-teer Program
Contact:  Martha Brabec
Foothills Restoration Specialist
(208) 493-2530


Treasure Valley Native Plant Network - Golden Eagle Audubon Society

The Treasure valley Native Plant Network (NPN) is a partnership led by Golden Eagle Audubon Society and Land Trust of the Treasure Valley, along with numerous community partners, schools, and universities.
The NPN works together to collect at local seed sources, germinate and propagate the seed, and create banks of seedlings for habitat restoration and plants those seedlings at select parks and wildlife reserves around the Treasure Valley.
​www.goldeneagleaudubon.org/npn