October 28, 2024 | TNC in Idaho Receives $19.4 million for Conservation
TNC Receives $102.5 Million for Conservation Work Across Six States
New Intermountain Joint West Venture Partner Biologist Positions
The IWJV, Pheasants Forever, and Idaho NRCS have partnered to establish two new biologist positions based in NRCS offices in Preston (Pratt Griffeth - jgriffeth@pheasantsforever.org) and Coeur d'Alene (Kenna Frantzich- kfrantzich@pheasantsforever.org). These positions will be working regionally across southeast Idaho (Preston position) and northern Idaho (Coeur d'Alene). The primary role of these positions is to support NRCS in the implementation of NRCS Farm Bill Conservation Program delivery in key landscapes including agricultural irrigation infrastructure improvements that sustain wet meadow habitats, wetland restoration and management, mesic habitat restoration, stream and riparian habitat improvements, and other actions that enhance fish and wildlife habitat on working lands. These positions will also be supporting NRCS State Office easement division staff to enhance management of existing WRP and WRE parcels through science-based wetland management approaches that improve the habitat value on enrolled lands. In addition, these new positions can support connections between landowners and land trusts to help advance protection of working lands in Idaho. Both positions have started recently and we will be working to connect them with local partners in the coming months.
Teton Regional Land Trust partners with landowners to conserve over a mile of creek frontage along Bitch Creek
Teton Regional Land Trust (TRLT) and the Fosdick family recently completed a 183-acre conservation easement that protects over a mile of frontage along Bitch Creek in Fremont County, Idaho just north of the Teton County border. This property borders a conservation easement on the south side of the creek that the Fosdicks placed under easement with the Land Trust in 2005, resulting in both sides of Bitch Creek being protected in perpetuity along this stretch. Both easements have been donated by the Fosdicks.
“Since coming to Teton Valley in 1988 we knew that this was a place that we wanted to be a part of and preserve,” said Debbie Fosdick. “To have a conservation easement in place to protect the property, waters, and wildlife corridors gives us the assurance that this protection is in place. With the possibility of increasing development, David and I knew that putting the additional acreage located in Fremont County was important. To have both sides of that part of the Bitch Creek corridor in a conservation easement would help ensure preservation of what we both value. Hopefully, other landowners might join us.”…