On May 9-10, BHA volunteers teamed up with the BLM biology department of the Upper Snake Field office to improve fencing around riparian areas in Stinking Springs Canyon Idaho. The removal of dilapidated fencing and rebuild to wildlife friendly fence is intended to improve habitat and water quality in the area. Modified fence will serve to protect the spring head and riparian zones leading into the Snake River.
The difference in water clarity was evident overnight -when volunteers showed back up to the project site for their second day of volunteer work, they could see their efforts had already made a significant improvement to the landscape. Fences were built in the “lay down” style, to be unhooked and laid flat during the critical migration periods for Mule Deer and Elk of the spring and fall.
In total, Dan Flathau, the Idaho BHA chapter leader who spearheaded this project, estimates a total of around 1 mile of fencing was completed in patchwork to help achieve the BLM's large scale objectives in the Upper Snake River region.
Thanks to all those that showed-up and a special thank you to our partners at OnX Maps, Dometic and Jetboil for their continued support of BHA, especially the boots on the ground Stewardship mission!
About Andrew Hahne
BHA Habitat Stewardship Coordinator based out of Missoula, MT.