PDF – Directors Meeting Announcement
#2 Accident/Incident Narrative (Broken Foot):
Date/Time of Near Miss
05/31/2025 3:30 PM
Location (trail number and description of scene)
3382, Chimney Peak trail southeast of Middle Santiam Wilderness
Weather: Warm, sunny
Trail work activity (relating to incident)
Logging with power saws
Description of Near Miss
Sawyer was standing on a large log cutting a 40″ log that was on top of the log the sawyer was standing on. The objective was to cut the upper log so that it dropped to the ground and make a less complex cut at the trail. The sawyer made an offside cut on the downhill side of the log, moved to the uphill onside and started the onside cut. The sawyer stopped cutting while another person assisted with starting a wedge into the offside then moved to a safe area. The sawyer continued the onside cut for a short time and was getting ready to place a wedge in the kerf in the top of the log. The onside cut was started but did not get very far when the log split out, driving the uncut portion toward the sawyer and down. The chainsaw was thrown to the ground away from the sawyer. The uncut portion of the log hit the sawyer’s left foot on the way down. The log’s fibers were compromised by rot more so at the current cut than at the previous cut only a few feet further up the log. The sawyer was able to hike back to the trailhead.
Lessons learned; Recommendations to avoid similar event in the future:
Rotting fiber in a log can change within a few feet. Don’t expect that the holding wood will be the same a short distance away from a previous cut. Stand as far away as possible when doing the onside cut.
https://wildernessskillsinstitute.org/nrwsi/
Bryce Shull
Wilderness Ranger Fellow
Northern Rockies Wilderness Skills Institute, 5/19-5/23/2025
The season finally feels like it’s begun. After a week of indoor training in Missoula, my fellow SBFC Fellows and I were eager to get into the field and attend the Northern Rockies Wilderness Skills Institute (NRWSI) at Powell Ranger Station in the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest. Nestled beside the beautiful Lochsa River and bordering the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, Powell is a perfect setting to kick off a season of stewardship.
Going into the NRWSI, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I didn’t know how big Powell would be, how many people would be there, or what exactly our classes would cover.
We left Missoula early Monday morning, making a quick stop at the Lolo Pass Visitor Center before arriving at Powell. My first impression was surprise— Powell was much larger than I anticipated. The station included bunkhouses, a gym, a barn, storage facilities, and more. Even more striking was the scenery: the Lochsa River flowed right next to the station, and the surrounding mountains made it feel like we were tucked into a hidden gem. But what stood out the most was the deep sense of community. Returning participants greeted each other like old friends, former coworkers reunited, and complete strangers bonded over their shared passion for wilderness stewardship.
On Tuesday, training began in earnest. All of the SBFC Fellows were enrolled in the Trail Maintenance Foundational Skills course. We loaded tools and gear into the rigs and headed to a nearby trail, where seasoned trail workers from across the country shared their knowledge and experience. We got our hands on crosscut saws, axes, Pulaskis, McLeods, and picks. For some fellows, this was their first time using these tools. Regardless of our experience levels, we all shared a common excitement for the week ahead and for the season as a whole.
Our second class focused specifically on crosscut saws. We learned how to properly care for, maintain, and use them in the field. We bucked logs, felled trees both large and small, and gained confidence using crosscuts and axes through hands-on practice. READ MORE
Finding Human Connection in the Largest Wilderness Area in the Lower 48
Raegan Dick | Wilderness Ranger Fellow
Norton Ridge/Marble Creek Trail, Salmon-Challis Forest
05/26-05/31/2025
On the third day of this hitch, I was nervous. The day before, we had made it 2.5 miles up Norton Ridge— a daunting 5.5-mile trail that gains nearly 4,000 feet of elevation to an abandoned fire lookout deep within the Salmon-Challis Forest. It was a tough trail, and I knew it would only get harder the higher we climbed.
As we climbed Norton Ridge that morning, we ran into a woman named Kristin and her two dogs. She lives on a ranch inholding within the wilderness— one we had admired from across the Salmon River earlier in the day. We chatted briefly about our respective work before continuing up the trail.
By the end of the workday, around 3.5 to 4 miles in, our crew decided to push to the summit and see the fire lookout. The temperature had climbed to 85 degrees, and most of us were nearly out of water, but the opportunity to explore the fire lookout was within reach, so we went for it.
It turned out to be one of the hardest hikes I’ve ever done. Even after four weeks out west, I’m still adjusting to the elevation— the 7,500-foot difference from my home in Michigan hit me hard. The heat, lack of water, and general fatigue from a full day of trail work compounded the challenge, but quitting wasn’t an option.
The fire lookout came into view as we reached the summit, and I knew it was all worth it. Now eye-level with the snow-capped peaks, it felt like you could see for miles and miles in any direction you looked, almost like being on another planet.
As we began our 6.5-mile hike back to base camp, I was preoccupied with how relieving it would be to finally collect and filter water from the river once we were back. All of a sudden, I slipped down the toe of the trail and twisted my ankle. The pain was sharp, but I knew that the only choice was to continue forward, one foot in front of the other. READ MORE
Dale Forrester Obituary
October 26, 1939 – May 25, 2025
Emmett, Idaho – Dale Edward Forrester passed away at home May 25, 2025 in Emmett, Idaho at age 85 surrounded by family.
Dale was born on October 26, 1939 in Riceville, Tennessee to Robert and Grace Forrester. He was the youngest of nine children. At the age of 8, his family moved from Tennessee to Mesa, Idaho where he began a new way of life. Then, in 1954, he and his family moved from Mesa to Emmett where he attended high school. In his junior year he joined the National Guard. He then graduated in 1957. Two years later in 1961, he was placed on active duty orders during the Berlin Crisis to Ft. Lewis, Washington. Before leaving, he married the love of his life for 63 years, Linda Gates. After serving a year at Ft. Lewis, Dale and Linda moved to Richland, Washington where they had two wonderful sons, Neal and Don.
In 1969 Dale and his family returned to Idaho. Dale went to work for the Boise Fire Department in 1970 where he made many lifelong friends in his 25 year career. He achieved the rank of captain where he was well liked and highly respected by his crew.
Anyone who knew Dale was aware of his love for the outdoors. Archery was his main passion, and he was instrumental in promoting organized archery in the area. In 1972 Dale and Linda opened D & L Archery which they owned and operated for 8 years. During these 8 years, they shared their knowledge and enthusiasm of archery with multitudes of people, and he with several friends started Treasure Valley Bowhunters. Then in 1973 he spearheaded the start of the Idaho State Bowhunters. He passed his love for hunting and archery down to his family where they spent many years pursuing this passion.
In his later years fishing became his favorite pastime. Brownlee Reservoir and Cascade Lake were some of his favorite fishing spots.
Dale was preceded in death by his mother and father, Robert and Grace; his brothers, Vern, John, Kyle, Norman and Taylor; his sisters, Margaret, Mary Lee, and Elizabeth Ann.
Dale is survived by his wife, Linda; children, Neal (Shannon) Forrester and Don (Rochelle) Forrester; grandchildren, Dylan (Sami) Forrester, Taylor Forrester (Kaleigh Gomez), Bryce Forrester; great-grandchildren, Hayden and Larson Forrester
Dale was well known for his quick wit and sarcastic sense of humor. He loved a good practical joke. He influenced the lives of so many people while passing on his excitement for the outdoors. He loved his family dearly and he will be deeply missed.
Services will be held at Potter Funeral Chapel on Monday, June 2, 2025 with a viewing at 12 p.m. and a funeral service at 1 p.m. Burial will follow at the Emmett Cemetery.
Exploring the wilderness can be a rewarding and enriching experience, but it also comes with inherent risks. Accidents can happen at any time, and being in a remote location often means that medical help is not immediately available. Knowing basic first aid procedures is essential for preventing minor injuries from becoming serious and for responding effectively to emergencies. Whether you need to treat cuts and burns, stabilize fractures, or manage environmental hazards like dehydration or hypothermia, preparedness can make all the difference. By understanding fundamental first aid techniques and taking proactive safety measures, outdoor enthusiasts can minimize risks and ensure a safer, more enjoyable adventure.
Wilderness Survival Basics
Surviving in the wilderness requires preparation, awareness, and adaptability. Injuries, harsh weather, and a lack of resources can quickly turn a simple outing into a dangerous situation. Knowing how to respond to medical emergencies, build shelter, find water, and start a fire can mean the difference between life and death. First aid skills can help manage injuries like cuts, burns, and fractures until professional medical help is available. Understanding basic survival techniques and carrying essential supplies can prevent minor setbacks from escalating into life-threatening situations.
How to Find and Purify Water
Water is the most critical resource for survival, but drinking untreated water from natural sources can lead to severe illness from bacteria, parasites, or chemicals. Dehydration can quickly cause fatigue, confusion, and even organ failure. To ensure safe hydration, collect water from clear, flowing sources and purify it by boiling it, filtering it, or using purification tablets. If no natural water sources are available, use techniques such as collecting rainwater or making solar stills. Staying hydrated and consuming clean water is essential for maintaining strength and preventing medical complications in the wild.
- How to Purify Water in the Wild
- Two Ways to Purify Water
- How to Find Clean Water in an Emergency
- Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water
- Purifying Your Drinking Water
The Importance of Building a Shelter
Exposure to extreme temperatures, rain, or wind can cause hypothermia or heatstroke, making shelter a top survival priority. A well-constructed shelter provides protection from the elements, conserves body heat, and reduces the risk of weather-related illnesses. If you’re stranded, look for natural formations like caves or dense tree cover for quick shelter. Use materials like branches, leaves, or tarps to build a sturdy structure. Insulation is key, and adding layers of foliage or dry material can help regulate your body temperature once you’re inside. Knowing how to construct an emergency shelter can keep you safe until rescue or better conditions arise.
- Building a Survival Shelter
- Learn How to Build a Wilderness Survival Shelter
- Surviving the Elements: Building Your First Shelter Like a Pro
- Emergency Survival Shelter
Building a Fire
Fire is essential for warmth, cooking, purifying water, and signaling for help, but improper fire management can lead to serious burns or uncontrolled wildfires. In survival situations, having the ability to start a fire without matches or lighters is crucial. Use dry tinder, kindling, and larger logs to build a sustainable fire, and always keep it contained in a fire pit or surrounded by rocks to prevent it from spreading. If someone suffers a burn, cool the area with clean water (if available) and keep it covered to prevent infection.
- How to Build Your Campfire
- Guide to Building a Campfire
- Key Steps for Building a Successful Campfire
- Rediscovering the Lost Art of Building a Fire
- How to Start a Campfire Even When it’s Wet
How to Make a Stretcher
A well-constructed stretcher can be a lifesaver when seeking medical assistance in the wild. Transporting an injured person in the wilderness can be challenging, but knowing how to make a makeshift stretcher can prevent further injury and help move them to safety. Using sturdy materials such as branches, rope, or a tarp, a stretcher can provide stability for someone with a broken bone, sprain, or serious wound. If materials aren’t available, a fireman’s carry or two-person assist can help move the injured individual. When handling a person with a potential spinal injury, keep them as still as possible and avoid sudden movements.
- How to Make an Improvised Stretcher
- Emergency Duct Tape Field Stretcher
- Making an Improvised Stretcher in a Real Emergency
- Evacuating an Injured Person
Fractures
A broken bone in the wilderness can be debilitating and, if not stabilized, can worsen with movement. Fractures require immediate attention to prevent further damage, internal bleeding, or infection. Immobilize the injured limb using a splint made from sticks, cloth, or a backpack frame, and avoid putting weight on the injury. If a bone is protruding through the skin, cover it with a clean dressing to reduce the infection risk.
- Fractures
- Dealing With Bone Fractures
- Types of Fractures
- Everything You Need to Know About Fractures
- Causes and Treatments for Bone Fractures
Bug and Animal Bites
Bug and animal bites can range from irritating to life-threatening, depending on the species and severity of the bite. Insect bites may cause allergic reactions or transmit diseases like Lyme disease or malaria, while animal bites can lead to infections or rabies exposure. If bitten, clean the wound immediately with water and soap, apply an antiseptic, and bandage it to prevent infection. If the bite is from a venomous snake or spider, keep the affected limb immobilized, stay calm, and seek emergency medical care. Avoid provoking wildlife, and use insect repellent, long clothing, and proper food storage to reduce the risk of bites.
- Useful Tips to Deal With Domestic and Wild Animal Bites
- Signs and Symptoms of Animal Bites
- Summer Safety Series: Bites
- Bites and Stings
How to Build a Kit for Emergencies
A well-prepared first aid kit is a survival essential for any outdoor adventure. If someone is hurt, having the right supplies can help you manage wounds, stabilize injuries, and prevent infections until help arrives. Essential items include bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, medical tape, tweezers, a tourniquet, water purification tablets, and a whistle for signaling for help. Personalize your kit based on the environment, length of trip, and medical conditions of the group. Regularly check and replace expired items to ensure preparedness.
As the Department of the Interior develops a plan to “restore American prosperity” by exploiting Western natural resources, a Wyoming attorney who has steeled rural communities against federal policies is atop the hierarchy that will marshal the effort.
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum last month appointed Karen Budd-Falen as temporary deputy secretary and his senior advisor. As the department fleshes out a four-year strategic plan to use natural resources across 19.9 million acres of national parks and Bureau of Land Management property in Wyoming, Budd-Falen will be in the Interior’s second-highest position.
A draft of the four-year Interior plan leaked to Public Domain outlines department objectives for prosperity, security and recreation. Conservationists have decried elements they say would dismantle environmental safeguards, turn over federal property, promote energy development and favor rural communities over nationwide interests.
The Interior Department last week blasted the leak and called its publication “irresponsible.”
“It is beyond unacceptable that an internal document in the draft/deliberative process is being shared with the media before a decision point has been made,” Interior’s press office wrote WyoFile on Thursday. “Not only is this unacceptable behavior, it is irresponsible for a media outlet to publish a draft document.
“We will take this leak of an internal, pre-decisional document very seriously and find out who is responsible,” the statement reads.
The draft plan, which the agency said is “not final nor ready for release,” sets four goals and several objectives to accomplish them. Interior’s drafted goals are to restore American prosperity, ensure national security through infrastructure and innovation, and allow sustainable enjoyment of natural resources. It would do all that through the fourth goal — collaboration with states, tribes and local governments.
The draft plan to restore American prosperity would use American energy to “lower… costs and increases affordability.” But it includes elements that worry conservationists who fear damage to Interior agencies including the National Park Service, BLM, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The plan would “deregulate” to increase “clean coal” production and oil and gas drilling. It would streamline the National Environmental Policy Act, a law designed to safeguard the environment. And it would reduce the cost of grazing, which critics say is already too low.
The draft would “release federal holdings” — divest Americans of their public property — to allow states and communities to reduce housing costs. Interior would support agriculture and increase revenues from logging, non-energy mining, and grazing. The draft treats natural resources as assets, viewing federal holdings for the economic value that can be derived from them.
The leaked document “reads like an industry wish list,” the Center for Western Priorities said in a statement. It includes “a thinly veiled reference to the seizure and sale of public lands,” according to the conservation group.
The draft treats the West’s natural resources “as nothing more than numbers on a balance sheet,” Western Priorities Executive Director Jennifer Rokala said in a statement. In the plan, those resources are “products to be sold off and exploited to help pay for tax cuts for Elon Musk and Trump’s fellow billionaires,” she said.
“It resembles a business plan from a desperate CEO, not a framework to steward public lands for the benefit of all Americans,” Rokala’s statement reads.
To her post, Budd-Falen brings years of experience fighting for ranchers and other public land users and developers. The federal government has been a frequent adversary, but so has Western Watersheds Project, another conservation group that focuses on public land grazing.
She represented a group of ranchers who sued Western Watersheds for trespassing when a field worker collected water to test for pollution caused by grazing. She advised rural counties to adopt land use plans they could leverage when contesting federal programs on public land in their areas. She also represented stock growers who sided against four Missouri hunters who corner crossed to hunt public land on Elk Mountain in Carbon County. She represented the Cliven Bundy family and others as they fought grazing reductions imposed after Las Vegas developers were permitted to occupy desert tortoise habitat. That family later became infamous for armed standoffs with federal officials over use of public land.
I invite you to watch my second video (or read the transcript below), where I talk about our agency priorities and my focus areas as Chief. I continue to believe that safety must be our highest priority, no matter where you work. We must be safe in the course of our duties, and we must look out for one another.
I also share a bit more about what I mean when I say we need to get back to basics. Everyone, including the public, knows that we fight fires, but we do so much more, from forest management to outdoor recreation to mineral and energy management. By focusing on the fundamentals of our work, we can do more to support the health and vitality of our forests and grasslands and neighboring communities.
Overall, our work is built upon relationships and communication, from those with one another to our partners, and I look forward to communicating with all of you through these videos and as we meet in person.
TRANSCRIPT
When I came in, people were asking, “What are the priorities? What are we focused on?” I looked at a couple different things. One, first and foremost, was safety.
And as we prepare for fire season or when, regardless of whether you’re a firefighter, but just doing your job day to day can be hard. And so to me, first and foremost, as we do our jobs, it’s got to be safe, how we perform them and looking out for each other. Another big focus for me is trying to get back to basics. To me, like, really focusing on what our primary responsibilities and duties are that we do.
We’re fighting fire. We have a forest management program. We have a recreation, outdoor recreation program, the minerals program, oil and gas.
But the recreation program, for me, is an area that I’ve learned a lot about that. We have over two hundred million users on an annual basis that recreate on national forest lands.
I mean, so that the interest in the use and how we’re viewed is so positive, I think when I’ve looked at some of the customer survey results, we have like seventy percent positivity in terms of like how people view us and how we interact with the public. So it’s significant, the work that we do, it’s critical, and how we deliver that to the public.
And, you know, one thing that I didn’t mention was the role of relationships, right, and partnerships. But whether it’s in fire, whether it’s in archaeology, whether it’s recreation, we have so many partners. I really think we are in the relationship business, and you all see that in how you do your jobs. Maintaining those relationships and spending the time to to get to know people, in and out of work, is critical, for us to do our jobs effectively.
Hi SNRA Trails Partners and Volunteers,
My final day with the Sawtooth NRA will be Monday April 21st. I want to thank all of you for your dedication as partners and volunteers during my time as the Trails Supervisor here, and for many of you, well before I started here. It has been a delight to maintain and enhance the trail system on the Sawtooth NRA and an absolute pleasure to do so alongside such a robust and active partnership program. Thousands of trees have been cut and hundreds of miles of trails have been maintained thanks to all the important work your organizations do.
Bryce Parker, SNRA Wilderness and Trails Coordinator, will take over as the contact for all things trails on the SNRA. His work cell is 970.409.8110. bryce.parker@usda.gov
Please let me know if I can do anything for you before I go.
Hope to see you all down the trail, Caitlin
We recommend these Trauma Kit to sawyers taking the “Developing the Thinking Sawyer” certification classes. They are to be worn on the sawyers body and not stashed in their truck, because if you need them it seconds that make the difference. They are also great for horsemen attached to their saddles.
Amazon have Trauma kits available, a couple of the ones we recommend are:
Few things titillate the internet quite like a robot — as Kawasaki has proven once again with an ambitious new design concept.
The Japanese company arrived at the Expo 2025 Osaka this weekend with several creative ideas for the future of mobility, including a robot horse. Kawasaki’s “Mobile Instincts” pavilion at the international design event highlighted CORLEO, an electric horse powered by a hydrogen engine.
There’s no real footage of this very early prototype, which won’t actually become available until, in theory, 2050 — at the earliest. But, Kawasaki did release a concept video using CGI rendering. It depicts a dreamlike landscape reminiscent of fantastical Japanese video games, and filled with robot horse riders gingerly riding through an Alps-like mountain range.
It should come to no one’s surprise that this immediately captured the internet’s imagination. I mean, it’s a robot that leverages Kawasaki’s motorcycle expertise and advanced robotics to create a techno-steed capable of traversing rugged terrain. What’s not to love?
And hey, if they make less noise and cause less environmental destruction than side-by-sides — I say bring on the robot horsies.
Hello,
I am a recreation specialist with the Boise National Forest (BNF) based on the Cascade Ranger District. The BNF is hosting a virtual meeting April 30th from 4:00-5:30 PM to coordinate with partners on trail work planning for 2025. U.S. Forest Service staff will share what we are planning and what other planned projects trail partners have planned. You should be able to click on the highlighted text above and RSVP. I will also add your contact info to a teams meeting and you should receive a separate email with an invite.
There is an included survey here for any partners planning or wanting to do trail projects on the BNF, if each group could fill one out, I will compile all the projects with a brief description into a schedule that can be shared before the meeting. If you have multiple projects you can add forms or would rather email me a description, feel free to do so. https://forms.office.com/g/vMhW5RXsD4
If you have any questions before the meeting, please feel free to reach out to me at Jonathan.floyd@usda.gov for general meeting information, or specific trails information regarding the North Zone (Cascade, Emmett and Lowman Ranger Districts). For South Zone (Mountain Home and Idaho City Ranger Districts) please reach out to JW Cleveland, South Zone recreation specialist at joseph.cleveland@usda.gov.
Meeting Agenda
- Quick Introduction (Adam Floyd)
- Boise NF trail project plans
- How to best find a project to join (Adam Floyd)
- North Zone (Adam Floyd)
- South Zone (JW Cleveland)
- Round table with partners who would like to present their projects
- Questions or additional discussion (Adam Floyd)
- We look forward to seeing you there,
Zoom Meeting
Topic: Non-Motorized Trails Legislation Update
Time: Apr 24, 2025 10:00 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89109943525?pwd=bzKeHF50wbJvdUDvbER0pra3SeUkRi.1
Meeting ID: 891 0994 3525
Passcode: 512561
Full Text of Bill PDF – IHB – 0487 
(Washington, D.C., April 4, 2025) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins issued a Secretarial Memo (PDF, 2.9 MB) to establish an “Emergency Situation Determination” on 112,646,000 acres of National Forestry System (NFS) land (PDF, 19.8 MB). This Memo comes on the heels of President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order to expand American timber production by 25%, and it will empower the U.S. Forest Service to expedite work on the ground and carry out authorized emergency actions to reduce wildfire risk and save American lives and communities.
“Healthy forests require work, and right now, we’re facing a national forest emergency. We have an abundance of timber at high risk of wildfires in our National Forests,” said Secretary Rollins. “I am proud to follow the bold leadership of President Trump by empowering forest managers to reduce constraints and minimize the risks of fire, insects, and disease so that we can strengthen American timber industry and further enrich our forests with the resources they need to thrive.”
The Memo issued by Secretary Rollins is part of a larger effort to ensure American resources are properly managed for generations to come. This work will support rural economies, reduce wildfire risk, and build capacity through workforce alignment and expanded partnerships.
This Memo will also spur immediate action (PDF, 285 KB) from the U.S. Forest Service directing field leadership to increase timber outputs, simplify permitting, remove National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) processes, reduce implementation and contracting burdens, and to work directly with states, local government, and forest product producers to ensure that the Forest Service delivers a reliable and consistent supply of timber.
This action builds on Secretary Rollins’ announcement last month to unleash American energy by directing the USDA Forest Service to take action to remove burdensome Biden-era regulations that have stifled energy and mineral development on Forest Service land. As part of these decisive actions, the agency also canceled two mineral leasing withdrawals on Forest Service land that will help boost production of critical minerals.
USDA Secretarial Memo April 3, 2025 (PDF)
Drew Dodson writes: Work to repair damage from a landslide on U.S. 95 between New Meadows and Council will begin on Monday, and with it a complete closure of the roadway, the Idaho Transportation Department announced today.
The closure is set to begin on Sunday night at 8 p.m. and will not be lifted until repairs are completed in late April or early May, according to ITD.
There are no local detours around the closure zone due to heavy snowpack remaining in the mountains.
“ITD is working with emergency responders to ensure uninterrupted service for all areas,” the agency said in a news release. “ITD is also working with local jurisdictions to identify potential alternatives for local workers to get past the US-95 closure.”
Repairs will begin by digging about 10 feet down along a 200-foot-long section of the roadway that was damaged by the landslide on March 16 just north of the northern outlet of the Fruitvale Glendale Road.
Crews will then drive steel piles into stable rock to support a retaining wall that will be built to support the roadway.
The roadway was damaged on March 16 when steady rains and warm temperatures led to a steep bank along the Weiser River sliding away from beneath the roadway, causing asphalt to crumble away with it.
Days later, ITD re-opened one lane of the roadway to passenger cars between the hours of 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Those hours will continue through Sunday night. Commercial traffic, including semi-trucks, will continue being detoured onto Idaho 55 for the duration of the closure, ITD said.
Idaho 55 is normally closed to most semi-trucks due to “narrow and winding” conditions, including at the Rainbow Bridge south of Cascade, where truck drivers have been instructed to slow down or stop to yield to oncoming traffic on the bridge.
(Part of U.S. 95 between Council and New Meadows crumbled away following a March 16 landslide. Photos: Courtesy Idaho Transportation Department)
MISSOULA, Mont. — Kristin Bail is being named acting regional forester for the Northern Region on March 31.
Bail will temporarily succeed Regional Forester Leanne Marten who has planned to retire after 34 years of service.
In her role, Bail will oversee management of nine national forests and one national grassland within Idaho, Montana and North Dakota.
The USDA Forest Service sent out the following:
USDA Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz today announced Kristin Bail will serve as acting regional forester for the Northern Region, effective March 31, 2025.Bail will temporarily succeed Regional Forester Leanne Marten as she reaches her long-planned retirement date after 34 years of service.
“I would like to thank Leanne for her dedication and exemplary leadership. She leaves a legacy of successful partnerships and collaboration,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz.
As acting regional forester, Bail will oversee management of nine national forests and one national grassland within Idaho, Montana, and North Dakota.
“Kristin’s understanding of the importance of field work and collaboration with state and local decision-makers perfectly positions her to serve in this leadership role for the Northern Region. As the agency focuses on safety, active forest management, fire management and recreation, Bail will work with our partners to advance the agency’s mission critical work,” said Chief Schultz.
Bail’s land management career spans more than 40 years where she served in a variety of field positions and leadership roles at the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. Most recently, Bail served as the deputy regional forester for the Southwestern Region and previously as forest supervisor for the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in Washington State.She also served at the executive level as assistant director for the Bureau of Land Management’s Resources and Planning Directorate.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to lead the Northern Regionas we steward the health and productivity of our nation’s forests and grasslands,” said Bail. “I look forward to building relationships across the region as we focus on delivering on the agency’s priorities.”
For more information about the Forest Service visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/.
The Whitebark Pine survives harsh weather conditions and can live over 1,000 years and grow over 90 feet tall. The oldest is over 1,200 years old and is living in Idaho’s Sawtooth National Forest.
“The Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) is a marvelous tree – what ecologists call a keystone, or foundation, species,” the Bureau of Land Management notes on its website. “Its roots stabilize rocky soils at the snowy, windswept 6,000- to 12,000-foot elevations where it grows, and its large, high-protein seeds feed several bird and mammal species – nuthatches, squirrels, black bears, grizzly bears, and red foxes.”
In addition to feeding several birds and mammals, the tree provides shelter and nest sites for many animals including deer and elk. It is also key to helping with Idaho’s water supply.
“Tolerant of the harshest conditions, whitebark pine grows at the highest treeline elevations; its canopies shade snowpack and protract snowmelt, thus regulating downstream flows; its roots stabilize soil, which reduces erosion, particularly on steep, rocky slopes,” the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation notes. “Thus, whitebark pine protects watersheds, which is important for both agricultural and drinking water.”
Another interesting fact about the Whitebark Pine is that it relies solely on the bird – the Clark’s nutcracker – to reproduce.
“Carrying the seeds in a pouch under its tongue, the bird buries them in shallow soil caches, sometimes up to 10 km away,” the National Park Service notes on its website. “Nutcrackers are known to cache up to 90,000+ seeds in a good seed crop year!”
These trees are very slow-growing. For example, once the seeds start to sprout, it can take the whitebark pine 25 to 30 years to begin producing cones. At 60 to 80 years, the tree’s peak cone production begins.
While the Whitebark Pine is crucial to Idaho’s ecosystem, its survival has been threatened by several different factors.
“Today, their survival as a species is jeopardized by mountain pine beetle outbreaks, altered fire regimes, climate change, and a fungal infection called white pine blister rust,” BLM notes.
In 2022, the Whitebark Pine was officially listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. To learn more about the efforts to save the Whitebark Pine, head to BLM’s website here.
A company owned by Texas billionaires Dan and Faris Wilks is selling 73 ranch sites carved from about 2,000 acres south of Cascade.
Plans for Legacy Creek Ranch, as dubbed by DF Development, look like subdivisions across Valley County, but are not subject to the same rules and review process because the ranch sites were created by a series of lot line adjustments and original parcel splits.
That, Valley County Planning and Zoning Administrator Cynda Herrick said, is the difference between selling raw land and being required to follow the county’s subdivision laws.
“I’ve been talking with (DF) and they understand that this isn’t the preferred method,” Herrick told Valley Lookout. “But it’s what they’re entitled to by law.”
The method used by DF enables Legacy Creek Ranch to avoid the county’s subdivision requirements, which include plans for drainage, irrigation, drinking water, septic systems, utilities, and streets. It also means that the company is not required to create a fire protection plan covering things like water supply, emergency access, and vegetation management.
The plan also avoids review by the Valley County Planning and Zoning Commission, as well as several state agencies, including the Idaho Transportation Department, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, and the Idaho Department of Water Resources.
How were the ranch sites created?
Most of the ranch sites have been created by lot line adjustments, which require administrative approval. County law allows landowners to adjust the boundaries of existing parcels into different shapes and sizes if no new parcels are created.
For Legacy Creek Ranch, that has enabled DF to reconfigure existing parcels to include road access along Clear Creek Road, also known as Forest Service Road 409.
The company was also able to create 18 new parcels by splitting parcels that have not been subdivided since Valley County’s subdivision regulations were adopted in 1970. Those parcels, known as “original parcels,” may be split one time without triggering a review.
“We allow original parcels to be split one time without going through a platting process,” Herrick said. “So they took their parcels and did their free splits.”
The result of the splits and reconfiguring is 73 parcels, which Herrick emphasized do not qualify as “lots” because they were not created through the subdivision process.
Marketing
Advertisements for Legacy Creek Ranch have shown up on billboards on State Street in Boise, in The Star-News, and on social media.
In The Star-News, McCall’s weekly newspaper, the ranch sites are advertised as “lots,” despite not coming with any of the certainties or amenities associated with true subdivision lots.
“This is not a subdivision, these are not lots,” Herrick said. “This is a marketing tactic.”
Unlike typical subdivision lots, the parcels DF advertised by DF do not include any utilities and are not guaranteed to be able to meet standards for septic systems and water wells.
Any buyer of the lots would be required to seek a building permit from the county and receive approval for construction plans. It is unclear if any of the lots have been sold so far.
Advertising paints Legacy Creek Ranch as “the perfect place to connect with the wilderness and start building your legacy.”
“Our early Phase-1 release at Legacy Creek Ranch ensures plenty of open space,” according to DF’s website. “Our lifestyle plan for the community is simple: build green, clean, and sustainable spaces filled with the natural wonders of mountain wildlife.”
DF Development representatives did not respond to requests for comment by Valley Lookout.
Other DF Developments Horsethief Ridge Red Ridge Village
BOISE, Idaho — Hundreds of concerned citizens gathered at the Idaho Capitol on Saturday to celebrate and defend public lands amid growing concerns over potential privatization efforts.
“We’re here today to celebrate and defend our National Public Lands,” said Alexis Pickering, Executive Director for Conservation Voters for Idaho. “We know that there’s been talks at the federal government, and special interests are eyeing our public lands as a cash cow and to sell them off.”
Attendees came from across the state, including distant communities like Driggs and Moscow, demonstrating the widespread concern about public land access.
Pickering expressed alarm about recent developments.
She cited the Wilks brothers as an example of privatization concerns.
“Privatization, we’ve already seen the impacts of what privatization has done. Most folks know about the Texas billionaire brothers, the Wilks brothers. They purchased a ton of land in Valley County in that neck of the woods, and they essentially shut off, you know, decades, centuries of access to pristine hunting grounds and recreational access,” Pickering said.
Conservationists argue that a combination of environmental challenges, resource constraints, and political agendas creates a perfect storm that puts the future of public lands at greater risk than ever before.
According to Pickering, the consequences could be far-reaching for average citizens,
“That’s what we can expect with privatization,” she said. “Is folks no longer allowing regular Idahoans like you or me to recreate, to pick huckleberries, to hunt or fish. That would no longer be an option for a majority of the state.”
Organizers are urging citizens to contact their federal representatives to support Montana Representative Ryan Zinke’s “Public Lands in Public Hands Act,” which would protect federal lands from being transferred to state ownership.
“I think we’ll just have to get bigger and louder and stronger,” Pickering said. “We’ll have to – this is not the first time they’ve come for our public lands, and we’ve beat it back before.”
The rally included multiple conservation organizations working together, reflecting what Pickering described as “a huge intrinsic value and a uniting force amongst Idahoans of all types.”
Thank you to the Boise National Forest for providing this information to Back Country Horsemen of Idaho
2024Fires_Trails_StatsTableAFedit 
FIRE MAP PDFs
Thanks to Dan Waugh and the Treasure Valley Chapter for hosting some excellent speakers who gave insight into the Idaho House and the current situation at different state and federal land management agencies.
The country’s national parks have never been more popular. Though visitation to the U.S. National Park System has been steadily increasing for many years, 2024 set a new record for annual visitors. A whopping 331.9 million visits were recorded in 2024 — the most people since record-keeping began in 1904, the National Park Service reported.
That marks a 2% increase over 2023, which saw 6.36 million fewer visits, and beats the previous record set in 2016. The National Park Service (NPS) celebrated its centennial that year, racking up 330 million visits.
In past years, the news would likely be greeted with celebration. This year, however, the visitation statistics arrive at a critical moment for the nation’s public lands. President Donald Trump and Elon Musk have fired thousands of parks workers at both the NPS and the U.S. Forest Service. They’ve also delayed seasonal hires and instituted a spending freeze for both the NPS and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
Those actions have led to widespread protests, and former parks officials have warned of serious consequences for an understaffed park system about to enter the busy summer.
“The National Park Service just reported the highest visitation in its history, as the administration conducts massive firings and threatens to close visitor centers and public safety facilities,” said Kristen Brengel, senior vice president of government affairs for the National Parks Conservation Association. “It’s a slap in the face to the hundreds of millions of people who explored our parks last year and want to keep going back.”
Closures, Reduced Services
Usage of the parks in 2024 trended upward by several different metrics. Overnight stays, both in NPS facilities and privately owned lodging, increased compared to 2023. Also, 28 individual parks set new records for visitation, and another 38 experienced visitation above the 10-year average in every month of the year.
And while national parks may receive the lion’s share of attention, they only represent 28% of park visits in 2024. The rest are spread among national recreation areas (16%), national memorials (12%), and other categories like national monuments and national seashores.
All of those are managed by the NPS, and every category has been impacted by Trump laying off 9% of the total workforce, according to the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA). Several parks have already announced closed facilities, as well as reduced hours and services.
As the summer approaches — when visitation to the country’s parks is at its highest — former parks officials like Don Neubacher worry how parks will fare when a skeleton crew of workers must manage millions of visitors.
“Overall, between the funding and staff cuts and this freeze it makes it almost catastrophic for parks,” Neubacher, a former superintendent at Yosemite National Park, told Gear Junkie last week. “A lot of these people want to do good for the American public, and it’s almost impossible for that to be accomplished in this context.”
‘Dismantling of the NPS’
The moves by the Trump administration have affected the entire federal government, but the moves against the agencies in charge of public lands represent the “dismantling of the National Park Service as we know it,” said the NPCA’s Brengel.
After the firings, spending freezes, and hiring delays, the NPS got even more bad news last week from the Trump administration, according to the NPCA. The White House is now calling for the cancellation of 34 building leases that house visitor centers, law enforcement offices, museums, and hubs for critical programs.
The 34 locations were part of a larger list of hundreds of federal properties the Trump administration is looking to give up or sell, The Washington Post reported.
That includes nine visitor centers and visitor contact stations. Examples include the Klondike Gold Rush Historical Site in downtown Seattle and the San Antonio Missions law enforcement facility.
“They’re attacking from every side,” Chandra Rosenthal, the director of the Rocky Mountain division of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, told GearJunkie. “It’s just a crisis moment right now.”
From: John Bengtson <john@cvidaho.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2025 11:08:14 AM
To: Daniel Waugh <Dan.p.waugh@gmail.com>
Subject: Public Lands Day of Action
Good to chat with you, as always. Here’s the quick version of the Public Lands Day of Action:
- Goal is to get motorized, non-motorized, hunt/fish, and conservation groups together as one.
- Policy priorities include keeping public lands in public hands (including Zinke/Vasquez “Public Lands in Public Hands” act) and encouraging investment in public lands
- Event will be March 22 on the Capitol Steps, featuring speakers from a broad range of perspectives and political persuasions. We’re going to be very clear that this is not an “anti-DOGE” rally, for what it’s worth.
So far, we have commitments from ITA, Selway Bitterroot Foundation, IBO, ICL, and others, and we’re in conversations with several MTB groups, environmental education organizations, and more.
TU, IWF, TRCP, IOGA, the Wilderness Society, BHA, and others are a part of the larger coalition, though there is some hesitation about the timeline for this event. Candidly, I think that if we can get a commitment from IRC, that will go a long way toward convincing them to jump in fully.
John Bengtson
| Civic Engagement Coordinator |
| Conservation Voters for Idaho & Conservation Voters for Idaho Education Fund |
| Cell: 208.342.1264 ext.707 |
| Mail: PO Box 2802, Boise, ID 83701 |
| Website: cvidaho.org Email: john@cvidaho.org |
FROM DAN:
Forwarding this along. The list of groups forming a coalition to preserve public lands. This is tying into our push for NM trial funding. I was asked to see about Representation from Horseman as well as groups looking to keep public lands open.
There is a rally at the Capital on March 22nd. I have been chatting with the groups involved with this and it isnt anti DOGE or one side of the aisle or the other. This group is being formed to be a bipartisan public land group dedicated to keeping our lands preserved and open for future generations.
I will likely be here. They are looking for support with name recognition as well. If your groups want to support this publicly they would like to know asap as this is happening quick and they want to promote this.
Dan
https://wildernessskillsinstitute.org/nrwsi/sessions/
The 2025 Northern Rockies Wilderness Skills Institute will be held from May 19 – 23, 2025. Sessions will start at 11 AM PT on Monday and conclude at 12 PM PT on Friday. To allow for flexibility in sessions this year you are allowed to register for one session on Monday and Tuesday, and one session on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. You must register for two sessions and stay for the entire week. The exception to this is the Crosscut Saw C- Recertification and Host A/B Course and Advanced Trail Maintenance courses which are week-long.
COST: There is no cost to attend.
FOOD: On your own – no food provided. Participants will handle their own meals. Cooking facilities may be provided – more information will be provided ahead of the event.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY- Registration will close April 1st.
ATTENDANCE PREREQUISITE:
- Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training class “Wilderness Act of 1964” online class – The Wilderness Act of 1964 – Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center (iu.edu)
This online course is recommended to be taken before attending the Northern Rockies Wilderness Skills Institute but is optional. This is a free class, which includes reading short narratives, listening to audio, interactive graphics, and quizzes. The purpose of The Wilderness Act of 1964 course is to acquaint you with the contents of this law and equip you to consider its impact in managing a wilderness area; this is foundational material relevant to everyone working in wilderness stewardship. We have designed the sessions at the Wilderness Skills Institute assuming you have already taken this class and have learned this foundational material. Feedback from past students has shown that most people prefer to take this class on their own before the full session, so that they can go at their own pace and have time to reflect on what they learned. The average time it takes students is 2.5 hours. You can stop and start the class anytime you want – you don’t have to take it all at once. Once at the Wilderness Skills Institute, please be prepared to discuss what you learned from the class, what surprised you, and what was the most important thing you got from the curriculum. 
NRWSI_25_Flyer (PDF)
