Treasure Valley BCH Hosting 2025 State Convention
BOD Meeting Friday March 14 @
Saturday March 15 Convention Location is a mile from the Best Western at the Canyon County Fair Event Center 110 County Fair Ave Caldwell.
Sabrina Kohrt <sabrina.kohrt@usda.gov>
Good Afternoon,
The Intermountain Region Forest Service Saw Program is a robust program that works with over 40 partners across Utah, Nevada, and parts of Wyoming and Idaho. Many of these sawyers are women! As a Partnership Coordinator and Public Affairs Specialist, I am working on a large project to identify these women sawyers and highlight their story, both within the agency and with partners. This project will include a written feature story, social media content, and an ArcGIS Story Map that will be released during Women’s History Month, March of 2025.
For the Story Map, I have begun collecting data from all women in the field that have a connection to the Forest Service Saw Program. The Story Map will host a map of the Intermountain Region with geotagged points that will open an information box when the user clicks on it. Each box will tell a small story about each individual woman, along with a photo, video, or media of their choice. Specific details about the information requested and media submissions are in the Google Form below.
Please spread this link far and wide to any woman sawyer you know that works within the region – Forest Service and/or partner. I am relying on all of your networks to help spread awareness of this project. I would love to fill the StoryMap completely to demonstrate how many amazing women sawyers are out there!
Please reach out if you have any questions or comments.
Women in the Saw Program – Google Form: https://forms.gle/3yq7ZgxZcjzB97Lj7
Woman Sawyer in South Western Idaho who belong to a number of Trail Volunteer Groups & the USFS
Women in the Saw Program Story Map
Overview:
The Forest Service Saw Program, made up of partners and agency staff, is engaged with many women across the Intermountain Region. The purpose of this project is to show how many women sawyers are working within the Saw Program/Intermountain Region and to highlight each women’s journey. These submissions will be collected and put on an ArcGIS StoryMap. Each point on the map will have the general duty station location, media of choice, along with one of the responses listed below.
Criteria:
– Must be a sawyer – can be in training or certified at any level, crosscut and/or chainsaw
– Forest Service employee or from any Forest Service partner agency. If non-agency, the individual must have some connection to the Forest Service Saw Program. This may include but not limited to: directly receiving training from the Saw Program, recertification or mentorship through the Forest Service employees, engagement in Developing Thinking Sawyer Curriculum, your organization works indirectly with the Forest Service Saw Program in other ways, etc.
– Must give consent to use some of the information you provide on this form to put on a public-facing site (non-Forest Service, please fill out separate form attached), such as photo, description, and general location of duty station.
– LGBTQIA+ Welcome
This StoryMap will be released during Women’s History Month, March of 2025, along with a written feature story and social media content. I will be taking submissions for the StoryMap up to February 14th, 2025, however, please do not hesitate to send me your submission so I can get them loaded into the Story Map prior to.
I encourage you to send this link far and wide to your female-identifying communities – the goal is to fill the map with as many points as possible to represent all the women sawyers in the region, I will rely on you all to help spread the message!
For questions or comments, please contact Forest Service Partnership Coordinator Sabrina Kohrt – sabrina.kohrt@usda.gov. 720-990-8505.
What is the Recreation Fund Council?
The Idaho Outdoor Recreation Fund Advisory Council was created by Gov. Brad Little and the Idaho Legislature to recommend projects to expand outdoor recreation or access to it in Idaho. Examples could include expansion of recreational facilities (parks, trails, boating, etc.) or agreements to gain entry to new areas for public recreation.
The Legislature in early 2023 provided $5 million in initial funding for the council’s work. In the 2024 session, the Legislature provided a second, $5 million installment for distribution.
New Projects Needed
The Council recently solicited candidate projects for 2024, asking for applications for be submitted by September 30, 2024. Please send applications to Skylar Jeff, ORFAC coordinator, at skylarjett13@gmail.com.
Funding for this round of projects comes from the American Rescue Plan Act, which carries firm timelines for any funds to be obligated and spent. The Council seeks projects that can be under contract by the end of 2024 and completed before the end of 2026.
Gov. Little’s executive order creating the council targets “opportunities for camping, fishing, hunting, accessing trails and other outdoor pursuits” for potential projects. IDPR, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the Idaho Department of Lands are charged to work cooperatively to propose projects, manage under-utilized resources and monetize outdoor recreation for long-term sustainability.
About the Council
Council members are:
- Tom Schultz, Council Chair
- Susan Buxton, Director, Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation
- Jim Fredericks, Director, Idaho Department of Fish and Game
- Dustin Miller, Director, Idaho Department of Lands
- James Petzke, Representative, Idaho Legislature, District 21, Seat A
- Gretchen Hyde, Director, Rangeland Resources Commission
- Mark Pratt, Idaho Cattle Association
- Kari Kostka, The Nature Conservancy
- Benn Brocksome, Idaho Sportsmen
- Dave Lent, Senator, Idaho Legislature, District 33
- Laurel Sayer, President, Perpetua Resources
- Sandra Mitchell, Idaho State Snowmobile Association
- Seth Griggs, Idaho Association of Counties
For more information about the Council and its work, contact ORFAC Coordinator Skylar Jett at skylarjett13@gmail.com or at 208-599-3264.
VISIT WEB PAGE FOR MORE INFO AND DOCUMENTS
Idaho Wildlife Federation Names Nick Fasciano New Executive Director
A dedicated advocate for Idaho’s wildlife and habitat, Nick brings a wealth of experience to the role. He previously served as the head of policy for the Idaho Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, where he worked closely with IWF staff in the Idaho Legislature to ensure the voices of sportsmen and women were heard by our elected representatives.
Fasciano has been an active partner on a range of priorities central to IWF’s mission. He has advocated for the recovery of Idaho’s wild salmon and steelhead runs, worked to push land management agencies to include the latest science on wildlife migration corridors in land use decisions, and has been a consistent defender of public access to Idaho’s abundant public lands and waters.
“It has been a privilege to work alongside IWF in the past, and I’m thrilled to be coming on board as a member of the team,” says Fasciano. “Since its founding in 1936, IWF has been a leading voice for conservation in Idaho, and many of our most cherished wild places would simply not be here today without the dedication of IWF’s staff and supporters. It is the honor of a lifetime to help push that legacy forward.”
An avid hunter and angler, Fasciano is based in Boise where he is working to get his young lab, Corbett, ready for bird season.
Nick officially begins his tenure with IWF this week, Sept. 16th-20th. He can be reached via email at NFasciano@idahowildlife.org.
SAVE THE DATE: Save Nov. 7th on your calendar because we’re going to have a meet-and-greet, in Boise, where you can all get to know Nick better. Much more to come soon on that!
This ride will raise funds for MRW (the Murphy Reynolds Wilson Fire and EMS District.
MRW is the first responder for all structural, wildland fires, and medical emergencies in a 330-square mile rural desert area of Owyhee County. This area includes 30 miles of State Highway 78 from mile post 9 to 39, more than 10 recreational trail head/parking lots, and two airports. The southern border extends past the Rabbit Creek Road and Reynolds Creek Road junction. The organization consists of 47 volunteers (fire fighters and EMT’s). They respond to more than 110 emergency medical calls (including some from equestrians) and more than 30 fire and extraction incidents each year. Many of the people they assist are from Ada, Canyon, and Elmore Counties. All proceeds from this event will be used to purchase needed equipment for the district.
Pre-register now here. Pay at the ride (cash or check only).
For more information contact Karen Steenhof karensteenhof@gmail.com
LAVA FIRE UPDATE – September 15, 2024 (PDF) LavaFireDailyUpdate_September 15 2024_final
Anna Daly writes: The Frangelica, Wapiti, Lava, Goose Chase, Cotton, and Willow Fires are just a handful of the dozens of fires burning over 400,000 acres in Idaho.
When looking at the Idaho fire map, it’s hard not to notice the variety of names for fires. However, the system for naming them is pretty straightforward and based on the fires’ locations.
“We usually name fires based on the closest drainage, landmark, or road,” the Bureau of Land Management Boise District Office’s Chad Cline said. “Either the dispatch that’s plotting the fire or the incident commander that gets to the fire first chooses the name.”
While naming fires is based on the closest landmark, it can get complicated if multiple agencies are responding to the fire. For example, the fire that burned in Boise during the first week of September had two names at one point: the Plex Fire and the Eyele Fire.
“When the fire started, the city was first on scene and named it. However, once BLM arrived and it was confirmed the fire was on BLM land, we took command and renamed the fire,” Cline said. “If it starts on BLM land then we name it but I did notice that it caused a lot of confusion.”
Also after a busy fire season, officials can sometimes come to roadblocks when coming up with a good name. For example, the 57th fire in North Idaho in 2015 was named the ‘Not Creative Fire.’
“The person in charge of naming the fire was not feeling really creative at 3 in the morning,” Idaho Department of Lands Public Information Officer Sharla Arledge said in an article from the Couer d’Alene Press. “Sometimes you have to find some humor in all of this.”
(The Wapiti Fire. Photo: Courtesy Custer County Sheriff)
OGDEN, Utah, September 10, 2024—The USDA Forest Service announced that the Boise and Salmon-Challis National Forests will be allocated $8.8 million through a competitive internal process under the Collaborative Wildfire Risk Reduction Program. The funding aims to expand essential wildfire risk reduction efforts through partnerships that help protect valuable resources and strengthen cultural connections to the land.
The Collaborative Wildfire Risk Reduction Program, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act’s hazardous fuels dollars, targets National Forest Service lands within the wildland urban interface where national forests meet homes and communities.
“This significant investment from the Inflation Reduction Act enables us to address critical wildfire risks in our region, particularly in areas that have not received the focused Wildfire Crisis Strategy funding,” stated Regional Forester Mary Farnsworth. “By working with diverse partners, we are committed to making our forests more resilient and reduce risks to communities from the effects of uncharacteristic wildfire.”
Intermountain Region Highlights
Boise National Forest- Lowman Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project
The project aims to treat 8,000 acres through a mix of prescribed fire, non-commercial thinning, and commercial timber harvest, enhancing Idaho Power infrastructure along the Highway 21 corridor for improved service reliability. Collaboration with the Shoshone-Paiute and Shoshone-Bannock tribes is being explored, involving tribal saw crews, with potential for utilizing leftover wood and wood products for the Wood for Life program. Local partners, including Idaho Power, Idaho Conservation Corps (ICC), Boise County, and the Lowman community, will actively participate in treatment preparation and execution, with the ICC providing youth crews for hands-on experience. The project is expected to reduce wildfire risk to communities and critical infrastructure as well as increase the wildlife resilience of the landscape, benefit the local economy, community, and foster sustainable land management practices through strong partnerships.
Salmon-Challis National Forest- Municipal Watershed to Panther Creek
This project is part of a larger 600,000-acre initiative aimed at reducing hazardous fuels and restoring critical landscapes. Specifically, it seeks to lower wildfire risk to the city of Salmon, protect a vital utility power line, create strategic fuel breaks, restore Endangered Species Act fish habitat, and enhance wildlife habitats. Supported by partnerships with the Mule Deer Foundation, Idaho Department of Lands, The Nature Conservancy, and the Student Conservation Association, the project will treat 10,500 acres through thinning and prescribed burning between fiscal years 2025 and 2027. The project will also involve local communities and workforce, offering employment opportunities and contracts to boost the local economy while ensuring vulnerable communities, like those near Panther Creek, benefit from reduced wildfire threats. Additionally, the project explores collaborations with the Shoshone-Paiute and Shoshone-Bannock tribes for using leftover wood and plant materials for energy or community firewood programs, reinforcing the commitment to public safety, sustainable land management, and strong community partnerships.
Criteria for eligible areas/projects include:
- Areas outside the 21 wildfire crisis landscapes
- On National Forest System lands
- Meet the Healthy Forest Restoration Act – Wildland-Urban Interface definition
- Are within high-risk firesheds identified in the Forest Service Wildfire Crisis Strategy and/or are areas with very high wildfire hazard potential
Anyone interested in learning more about this internal process can visit the Collaborative Wildfire Risk Reduction webpage.
Discover the lands of the Boise National Forest and its 2.5 million acres of mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes and grasslands, more than 500 trails, and over 250 lakes and reservoirs.
The Salmon-Challis National Forest spans over 4.3 million acres in east-central Idaho, encompassing diverse habitats ranging from rugged mountains and deep canyons to pristine rivers and expansive wilderness areas.
Follow us on Facebook: Boise National Forest, Salmon-Challis National Forest, and on X: Salmon-Challis National Forest, Intermountain Region.
You can learn more about the Wood for Life program through this video and story.
For imagery visit the Collaborative Wildfire Risk Reduction Program Flickr album.
Dr. Robin Knight lives in Nampa, ID with her spouse Dr. Pete Knox and two children. Dr. Knight attended undergrad and vet school at Colorado State University and completed a large animal internal medicine residency at Texas A&M. We are excited to have Dr. Knight here at IEH to partner with Dr. Jamie Higgins (board certified in internal medicine and emergency/critical care) to expand access to specialized medical care and consultation for all of our in-house veterinarians as well as referring veterinarians. The advanced training that Dr. Knight brings to the table as an internal medicine specialists is a huge asset to our practice and our patients well being. Dr. Knights interests include neonatal care, respiratory disease, neurological issues, gastrointestinal disease and all types of infectious disease. Dr. Knight will provide advice on testing, advanced diagnostic procedures, and treatment plans for a wide range of ailments that are not amenable to surgical correction.
Backcountry horsemen handout-September 2024
