Volunteers plant one and two-gallon willows, alder, spirea, cottonwood and other woody shrubs and trees along a “new” stretch of the Little Salmon River, now included in the ongoing native riparian habitat restoration partnership with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, private landowners and other agencies. United States Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Community-based Restoration Program funding pays for plant materials grown at local nurseries*.
Large rooted containerized plants are needed to readily establish and to compete with non-native pasture grasses planted by early pioneers and that eventually replaced the native riparian habitats. Because of their deep-rooted nature, native shrubs and trees - once established - provide for soil stabilization much more effectively than exotic grasses.
* Buffalo Berry Farm Native Nursery has propagated thousands of quality shrubs and trees for the project since it began in 1996. Idagold Nursery, Plants of the Wild and Lucky Peak Nursery have also provided plant materials for the project. In addition, Borah High School students have propagated plants from seed and cuttings they collected locally and which the students have also helped to plant.
This panorama taken June 3, 2005.
