Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Conserving, restoring and protecting open lands, special places and wildlife habitat in the Wood River Valley by working cooperatively
with private landowners and local communities to assure these lands are protected now and as a legacy for future generations.
FALL 2005
F
ollowing the publication of
Big Wood River Fishery Assessment the Healthy Waters, Healthy Future
report, Wood River Land Trust moved
into Phase II of the Big Wood River Fishery
Assessment. Phase II includes beginning a
public education and outreach campaign, devel-
oping GIS maps of the Big Wood River and
its changes over time, and conducting the Big
Wood Demonstration Project.
Project Coordinator Kathryn Goldman
has been making presentations to the Blaine
County Commission, the Ketchum Planning
and Zoning Commission, the Hailey City
Council, and other local governing bodies. The
Photo courtesy of David R. Stoecklein
Big Wood River Fishery wonderful opportunity for you to invest in the
Assessment, page 1 work of Wood River Land Trust. Your invest-
ment will help us receive much needed funds
2005 In Review, page 1 to continue our land preservation projects.
Kids’ Fishing Day, page 2
This year we have a new two-for-one chal-
Connecting to Howard lenge from anonymous donors and our Board
Preserve, page 3 of Directors totaling $150,000 - double the
Pioneer Moon Conservation amount of last year’s challenge! Every $1.00
you donate will be matched by an additional Scott and Emily Boettger at Kids’ Fishing Day
Agreement, page 4
$.50. Please help us reach our goal! We must 2005 has been a busy and successful year at the
A Gift of Land and Memories: raise $300,000 by December 31 in order to Wood River Land Trust. Early on your gener-
Neher Preserve, page 5 receive this $150,000 gift. ous contributions allowed us to purchase the
320-acre in-holding at Square Lake. This site is
Bag It: Creative Ways to Challenge Grant Goal = $300,000 particularly important because it includes a lek,
Control Invaders, page 6 Amount Received as of 10/7 = $79,400 or mating area, for Sage Grouse, whose Western
populations have declined by 40% due to dis-
Finding the Heart of the Amount Still Needed to ruption of their traditional habitat. We have
Wood River Valley, page 6 Meet Challenge = $220,600 also completed the first of three phases of our
Big Wood River Fishery Assessment. This study
Donations are tax-deductible!
Continued on pg 7
1
Meet Our Staff Kids’ Fishing Day ADOPT-A-PRESERVE: Connecting to Howard Preserve
I
Heather Kimmel t was a busy summer at the Howard the crane, dump truck, front-end loader, limb Community Picnic
Program and Membership Preserve in Bellevue. Since a 2004 part- chippers, excavators, chainsaws, weed-eaters, The 2nd Annual Community Picnic
Coordinator nership between Wood River Land Trust and other implements needed to clean up the sponsored by Wood River Land Trust in
Heather, though born in and the City of Bellevue turned the area into Preserve! This Work Day was full of big chal- conjunction with the Howard Family and
Michigan, considers herself a preserve, this riverfront expanse has become lenges, and people’s generosity and hard labor Friends of Howard was held on August 13th
an Idahoan. Having gone to a popular picnic spot and swimming hole for helped us clear deadwood, remove debris, and to honor the volunteers and community
high school in Pocatello and South Valley residents. In a show of support create trails to make the Howard Preserve even members who make Wood River Land
begun her career in Boise, for this great addition to the community, locals more welcoming. These Work Days are a great Trust’s work possible. Nearly sixty people
she is glad to be back in turned out en masse for a variety of events at example of what happens when people love the gathered on the Preserve for a community
Idaho. the Howard Preserve. area they live in! barbecue to celebrate the hard work and
As Wood River Land Throughout the spring, volunteers also dedication it takes to protect our natural
Trust’s new Program and Membership Coordinator worked with the City of Bellevue to construct areas for today and for the future.
Howard Work Days
Heather is responsible for promoting the Wood River a new bridge at the Howard Preserve. This
The challenging tasks scheduled for the Work
Land Trust within the community and for developing bridge runs across the canal and connects the
Days on August 6th and 7th inspired rather than
programming such as the new Connection to the Land parking area to natural areas and trails leading
deterred local volunteers. More than thirty men
Series and the current Multi-Media Competition. to the Big Wood River.
and women donated their weekend to person
She has spent her career working with non-profit
and higher education organizations implementing
and directing community, university, and refugee
programs, special events, outreach activities, and edu-
cational efforts. Most recently, she lived in Pullman,
Washington where she conducted research on Western
American writing, the role of landscape and sense of
place in westerners’ connection to the land, as well as
the effect of urbanization on traditional western land use
practices such as farming, ranching, logging, and min-
ing. She also taught writing courses that emphasized
community involvement, understanding local issues, and
field research.
Heather is thrilled to be back in Idaho and looks At Kids’ Fishing Day there are plenty of Community picnic-goers
forward to adventuring on her old, familiar, and much- fish (and frogs) to go around.
H
loved territories as well as to finding new ones! enry David Thoreau asked,
“Shall I go to heaven or a-fish-
ing?” If you live in the Wood
River Valley, you can go fishing in heav-
Board of Directors WRLT Staff This newsletter is published by: en. On Saturday, June 11, an estimated
John Flattery, President Scott Boettger
Clark Gerhardt, Vice President Executive Director
175 people arrived at Riverside Pond in
Ed Cutter, Treasurer Hailey’s Heagle Park for the third annual
Melanie Dahl
Robin Garwood, Secretary
Executive Assistant Kids’ Fishing Day. Kids enjoyed a beauti-
Jerry Bashaw The new bridge at Howard Preserve
ful spring day and the exhilarating experi-
Tom Bentley Kate Giese
William Burnham Stewardship Coordinator ence of a fish tugging the line.
Heather King Kathryn Goldman
The Idaho Department of Fish and
Patricia Klahr Project Coordinator Game stocked the pond with rainbow
Jack Kueneman trout and were on hand to rig poles. Free
Bill Lehman Diane Kahm The Wood River Land Trust Howard Property
Elizabeth Mitchell Data Manager fishing poles were given to the first 150 12.57 acres
119 East Bullion Street
Steven Strandberg Allison Kennedy kids courtesy of Zebco. Fishing Day was
Hailey, Idaho 83333
Chris Thompson Planning Coordinator sponsored by Sawtooth Auto Sales, Idaho
Barbara Thrasher 208-788-3947 (telephone)
Heather Kimmel Department of Fish and Game, the City
Bruce Tidwell 208-788-5991 (fax)
Doris Tunney
Program & Membership of Hailey, and Wood River Land Trust.
Coordinator info@woodriverlandtrust.org (email)
www.woodriverlandtrust.org (web)
Advisory Committee Jan Peppler
David Anderson Major Gifts Officer Tax ID# 82-0474191
Peter Becker
Julie Gallagher
Larry Schoen
John Seiller
Big machines driven by dedicated volunteers help spruce up Howard Preserve
2 3
Pioneer Moon Conservation Agreement A Gift of Land and Memories: Neher Preserve
T T
his spring, Wood River Land Trust worked hanks to a generous donation of land, ing her husband because he “was being seduced University of Indiana Medical School, was
with an anonymous East Fork family to pro- the Wood River Land Trust’s new- into selling the land to a man who thought it an unusually busy man—“Doc” was the only
tect 22 acres of the Pioneer Moon Ranch. We est preserve is also its first in Lincoln a perfect place to raise pigs commercially.” She doctor in Lincoln County. It was not uncom-
worked with the family to create a voluntary conser- County. The Neher Preserve is a nine-acre and Royal decided to purchase the riverfront mon for him to answer the phone in the
vation agreement that permanently protects upland parcel on the Little Wood River just east of property after they had walked it several times middle of the night, pull his clothes on over
habitat along key migration routes for elk, deer, and Shoshone and adjacent to BLM land. Juanita and were “amazed at how quiet and peaceful it his pajamas, drive to the hospital in Gooding
other animals. Neher and her late husband, Dr. Royal Neher, seemed.” or Jerome, and still arrive before the patient.
The newly protected land is visible when driving “We simply need that wild country purchased the land in 1980. Juanita recalls a The Nehers arrived in Shoshone from At Juanita’s urging, they purchased this piece
distraught friend who owned the property call- Ohio in 1947. Royal, a graduate of the of land because “it was so lovely to go out
out East Fork Road past Triumph. The bottomlands available to us, even if we never do more along the river and know we could be away
and hillsides are favored by deer, elk, wolverines, and
possibly the gray wolf. In addition, the banks along the than drive to its edge and look in.” from calls.”
East Fork of the Big Wood River provide important Juanita says that many enjoyable days
habitat for birds and fish including the at-risk Wood —Wallace Stegner and evenings were spent with their children,
River sculpin. grandchildren, and friends next to the Little
Wood. Enthused about the wildlife, Royal
took many photos, especially of the variety of
birds including owls, hawks, and woodpeck-
ers. The family tried to disturb the land as
little as possible and to preserve the area as
they found it.
Appreciating the variety of wildlife
there, the Nehers entered into a coopera-
tive agreement with the Shoshone School
District, Department of Fish and Game, and
BLM in 1993 to designate and manage the
site as an environmental education area—an
outdoor classroom—for local schoolchildren.
When Royal died in 2001, Juanita
wanted to continue to preserve the property
for educational and recreational use. After
researching the options, she approached the
(Above) Doc Neher, right, with Juanita
Wood River Land Trust in 2004 about hold-
and friend
ing the land in “a natural state in perpetuity.”
At her request, Wood River Land Trust will
work with partners in Lincoln County to
protect this beautiful area on the Little Wood
River for public access.
We owe Juanita Neher our thanks for
the quiet commitment she and Royal made
to a landscape they had come to understand,
love, and, ultimately, share with others.
4 5
Bag It: Creative Ways to Control Invaders Big Wood River Fishing Assessment 2005 In Review
Continued from pg 1 Continued from page 1
D
on’t be misled by its showy, yellow noxious weed control efforts. Members of local river today. Areas of the river between the The third portion of Phase II, the Big
flowers. Dalmatian toadflax, native youth groups were invited to come out to the shows that the Big Wood River and its fish-
Glendale Diversion and Warm Springs Creek Wood Demonstration Project, will restore
to Eastern Europe, is aggressively Howard Preserve in Bellevue and pull weeds to ery have been harmed by river straightening,
show growth rates in fish that are compa- fish habitat and improve bank stabilization at
invading the Big Wood River corridor, dis- raise money for their organizations. The bounty diking, riprapping, and removal of the fallen
rable to growth rates in Silver Creek and specific sites along the Big Wood River. The
placing native plants and reducing forage was $10 per 30- gallon bag, and a local 4-H trees and logs that give the river its name.
the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River. Lack Demonstration Project will place large pieces
for wildlife. To alleviate this problem Wood Club and the Sawtooth Pony Club took full Additionally, an anonymous local family
of quality habitat and, in some cases, water of cottonwood trees into the river to create
River Land Trust is exploring creative ways advantage of the opportunity—pulling almost donated a 21-acre conservation agreement
quantity keep the fishery from reaching its full log jams. These log jams will create the deep
to control toadflax and other noxious weeds 70 bags of weeds. that protects wildlife habitat and arguably
potential. pools in which fish like to live, will provide
on our preserves as well as on other lands in Besides removing several truckloads of the most scenic views of the Pioneer Mts.
We are now asking each local govern- food for bugs and fish, and will create areas
the county. Two such methods are biocontrol noxious weeds, Bag o’ Toadflax also proved to in the valley along the East Fork of the Big
ment or planning commission to consider its with cover where fish can hide. Additionally,
(introducing insects that naturally feed on be a valuable community education opportu- Wood River.
role in protecting and restoring the river to log jams slow high water flows and assist with
the invader) and offering a bounty on a bag nity. Before tackling the weeds, we discussed the Our most recent donation of land is
ensure a future with a beautiful, natural river groundwater recharge.
of pulled weeds. problems associated with the spread of noxious also our first project in neighboring Lincoln
system that has clean water and healthy fish. Working in partnership with the Idaho
This spring, Wood River Land Trust weeds. The 4-H group decided to help educate County. Mrs. Juanita Neher and her late
Kathryn is asking governing bodies to adopt Department of Fish and Game, the U.S. Fish
spearheaded Blaine County’s first Bag o’ others by making a flyer and a poster encourag- husband, Dr. Royal Neher, have generously
specific land use regulations that will protect and Wildlife Service, and private donors,
Toadflax Program. Sponsored by Blaine ing people to pull toadflax. Give us a call if you donated a 9-acre parcel on the Little Wood
the river and its fish. Wood River Land Trust will restore selected
County Cooperative Weed Management know of a group that might want to help out in River 1.5 miles east of Shoshone. This pre-
Kathryn will also provide detailed sug- sites in the spring of 2006. These sites will
Area (CWMA) and modeled after successful Dalmation Toadflax Bag o’ Toadflax 2006. serve will be an educational and recreational
gestions for county land use regulations to serve as good examples for elected officials,
programs in other Idaho counties, the Bag Thanks to Blaine County CWMA and the resource for the Shoshone community. We
the Blaine County Commissioners before the community members, and concerned citizens
o’ Toadflax program involved local youth in participating organizations! hope to work with youth organizations in
close of the moratorium restricting subdivi- of how our river can be restored and our fish-
sion development. Working with Blaine ery improved. the area such as Future Farmers of America
County is especially important because For more information on the Healthy (FFA) and 4-H to maintain the Preserve.
Finding the Heart of the Wood River Valley preliminary maps show that many of the Waters, Healthy Future project or to schedule
a presentation on the health of our river
These accomplishments represent 350 acres
of natural areas that have been protected
undeveloped floodplain areas that support the
with the help and generosity of area land-
A
re you one of us who has a favorite information, please contact Heather at quality of our fishery lie in the county. Each and fish populations for your organization,
municipality can make a positive contribu- contact Kathryn Goldman, Project owners.
place in the Valley—a favorite after hkimmel@woodriverlandtrust.org or 788-3947. Wood River Land Trust’s work is not
work hiking spot, a favorite secluded Prizes have been generously provided by tion to the future of the Big Wood River, and Coordinator at (208) 788-3947 or
Blaine County will have a particularly strong kgoldman@woodriverlandtrust.org. y only about protecting natural areas and our
place for stargazing, or a favorite vista where Silver Creek Outfitters, White Otter Outdoor river; it is also about encouraging apprecia-
you take family when they visit? Maybe you Adventures, Iconoclast Books, Flolo’s Imaging role to play.
tion of the fundamental value of our land-
prefer the neighborhood trail along the river Services, and Phoenix Quality Framing. scapes and helping people connect with the
or a close friend’s backyard and their frequent Additional support is provided by Boise State places we live, work, and play. To this end,
summer barbecues. Radio, College of Southern Idaho, and Jane’s. November is Grassroots Conservation Month
we are working to involve the community
Whatever places or visions make this at Backwoods Mountain Sports! in our ongoing activities. Our Adopt-a-
Valley your home rather than simply the place All submissions should be delivered or sent Preserve program encourages those living
Wood River you live, we hope you’ll share them with us.
Help us identify the many places that make
by 5:00 p.m. on November 15th to:
Wood River Land Trust,
Become a new member of Wood River Land Trust and receive in neighborhoods adjacent to Wood River
10% off your purchase or renew your membership for 5% off Land Trust preserves to become actively
Land Trust the Wood River Valley so special—the hearts
of the Valley.
119 W. Bullion Street, Hailey, Idaho 83333
your purchase involved in the enjoyment and preserva-
tion of nearby natural areas. We have also
announces the In response to the success of last year’s
photography competition, Wood River “I would have our writers and Backwoods will match 10% of all money raised during this event
created the Connection to the Land Series.
As part of this series, we are soliciting short
2 Annual
Land Trust is pleased to announce this year’s and your name will be entered into a drawing for products
nd Amateur Multi-Media Competition. In addi-
craftsmen of many kinds . . . donated by Patagonia
writings, short films, and photographs for a
new multi-media competition. The theme
tion to soliciting your photos, we invite you fix upon their memory the of this year’s competition is “The Heart of
Amateur send your short writings (essays, poetry, and
memoirs) and short films that document the
appearance of mountains and the Wood River Valley.” I hope you will
send us the images you feel define the heart
place that represents to you the Heart of the rivers and make it all visible We facilitate the reuse or
Multi-Media
and soul of the place we call home.
Wood River Valley. In addition to simply
describing your special place, please tell us
again in their art, so recycling of homes, building 2005 has been a busy and fruitful year,
and it is not over yet. We plan to finalize
that [people], even though they materials, and larger household
Competition
how and why the place is such a significant a nearly 400-acre conservation agreement
part of our area.
had gone thousands of miles items. Proceeds from the sale on a family-run organic farm within weeks,
Selected submissions will be featured in of materials are dedicated to and we are looking forward to the challenges
community events throughout the winter away, would still be in their and possibilities awaiting us in the new year
Submissions Due such as public gallery exhibitions, readings,
own country.”
the Wood River Land Trust’s
ahead. y
and film screenings. Submission guidelines preservation of natural areas
November 15, 2005 and entry forms are available on our website, —W.B. Yeats— and healthy waters throughout
www.woodriverlandtrust.org. For additional
208-788-0014 the Wood River Valley.
www.buildingmaterialthriftstore.org
6 7
NON-PROFIT
STANDARD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 679
BOISE, ID.
Playing in the Big Wood River at the newly restored Lions Park