Foothills restoration work set to begin
The City of Boise is working to restore native wildlife habitat, control invasive plant species populations and reduce the risk of fire on City of Boise open space reserves. During the spring and early summer, trail users may see restoration professionals and volunteers actively managing invasive species by mowing fuel breaks and replanting native species in Hulls Gulch, Camel’s Back, Oregon Trail, Mesa, and Military open space reserves. Fire risk reduction activities are provided by a Community Fire Assistance grant awarded to the City of Boise by the Bureau of Land Management – Idaho State Office and additional management and restoration funds were donated by Zoo Boise’s conservation fund.
Management activities will begin the week of March 26th and continue intermittently through June. In March and April, targeted herbicides will be applied to manage non-native annual grasses and problematic weeds. The herbicides used are not harmful to humans or pets and specifically target nonnative plants that compete with native species and increase fire risk.
All treated areas will be re-seeded or re-planted with native plants in fall 2018 or fall 2019.
Access to certain trails may be cut off intermittently while this work is being completed. Please stay on designated trails that remain open and obey any posted closures. Signs will be posted to notify users of rehabilitation and management efforts.
Citizens living directly adjacent to open space reserves can participate in wildlife mitigation activies by applying for a Citizen Fuel Reduction Policy permit. The Citizen Fuel Reduction Policy allows permitted users to trim and remove grasses on land adjacent to Boise open space reserves within 20 feet of any residential land parcel. Within this 20-foot buffer, residents also have the opportunity to seed with native grasses in the fall using approved seed types.
In addition, anyone interested in helping with restoration work in the Boise Foothills can join the Weed Warriors Project or sign up to take part in a volunteer planting. Click here to view upcoming spring plantings at Table Rock.
For more information on upcoming herbicide treatments or foothills restoration work, contact:
Martha Brabec, City of Boise, 208-493-2535