DOCSLIB.ORG

Bonner County Trails Plan

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Bonner County Trails Plan Bonner County Trails Plan Bonner County Trails Plan The Trust for Public Land June 2016 Printed on 100% recycled paper. © 2016 The Trust for Public Land. The Trust for Public Land creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. tpl.org Table of contents Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................... 5 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 7 Purpose ................................................................................................................................... 15 Public input ............................................................................................................................. 17 Proposed trails ....................................................................................................................... 20 Case Studies ........................................................................................................................... 31 Implementation ...................................................................................................................... 37 Action plan ............................................................................................................................. 39 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 43 Participants ............................................................................................................................. 44 Additional appendices for this report are available online at www.tpl.org/bonner-county-trails. The online appendices are: • Appendix 1: Trail System Area Maps • Appendix 2: Trail Proposal Considerations • Appendix 3: Meeting Summaries • Appendix 4: Public Input • Appendix 5: Headwaters Economics Bonner Trails Survey • Appendix 6: Field Verification • Appendix 7: Funding Options • Appendix 8: Neighborhood Plans • Appendix 9: Trail Development and Maintenance • Appendix 10: Greater Sandpoint Greenprint • Appendix 11: Bonner County Trails Plan References bonner county trails plan 3 Acknowledgments The current version of the Bonner County Trails Plan was made possible with generous support from the LOR Foundation, Idaho Conservation League, The Trust for Public Land, City of Ponderay, City of Sandpoint, City of Kootenai, Bonner County, Friends of the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail, North Idaho Bikeways, and the Rotary Club. Hundreds of people participated in local outreach events and community surveys. Over 60 people committed their valuable time to Bonner County Trail Mix Committee meetings and eight provided local knowledge and mapping expertise to our technical advisory team (TAT). The names of those who participated in the Trail Mix meetings and the TAT are shown in Section 9 (Participants). BLUE & GOLD PMS 286 PMS 871 BLUE & YELLOW PMS 286 PMS 129 For copies of this Trails Plan or for more information, please contact: Greenprints The Trust for Public Land 101 Montgomery Street, Suite 900 San Francisco, CA 94104 [email protected] 4 bonner county trails plan Bonner County, the Bonner County Trail Mix Committee, Idaho Conservation League, and The Trust for Public Land would also like to acknowledge the following organizations and individuals who have contributed their invaluable time, energy, and creativity to the trails plan since 2008: ORGANIZATIONS Dan Spinosa, Bonner County GIS Marie Duncan Bonner County Daniel Webb, Bonner County Mark Savarise Board of Commissioners David Krise, Spirit Lake Chamber Marty Taylor, AICP Bonner County Planning David Yarnell, Bonner County GIS Mary Franzel & Zoning Commission Deb Ruehle, Sandpoint City Council Mary Ann Hamilton, U.S. Forest Service Bonner County Planning Staff Diane Arrants Matt Diel, LPOSD Cities of Sandpoint, Ponderay, Diane Brockway, Dover Melanie Kirkland, IDPR and Kootenai Don Davis, PE, ITD Mike Keough, Kootenai Friends of the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail Dottie Yerkes, Backcountry Horsemen Mike Lithgow Idaho Conservation League Doug Freeland, Spirit Lake Chamber Mike Murray, Pend Oreille Pedalers Idaho Department of Lands Ed Robinson, Idaho Department of Lands Nancy Dooley, Idaho Trails Association Ed Wingert, Idaho Department of Lands Idaho Conservation League Kaniksu Land Trust Eric Grace, Kaniksu Land Trust Nancy Lewis, Kootenai LOR Foundation Erik Brubaker, Ponderay Planner Nate Sparks, State Parks North Idaho Bikeways Fred Gifford, Randy Blough, Harmony Design Panhandle Backcountry The Trust for Public Land Randy Stolz Horsemen Association Greg Hetzler Rebecca Holland, Panhandle Riders Greta Gissel, Northern ID Centennial Bike/Ped Advisory Committee Pend Oreille Pedalers Trail Foundation Regan Plumb, Kaniksu Land Trust Priest Lake Snowmobile & Trails Club Jack Lamb Richard Shellhart, Panhandle Riders Rotary Club Jade Smith, Rick Price Sandpoint Bike and Pedestrian Schweitzer Mountain Resort Robbie Gleason, Panhandle Riders Advisory Committee Jake Bachtal, BLM Robert Myers Sandpoint Nordic Club Jamie Brunner Roger Conant Schweitzer Mountain Resort Jan Griffitts, Rowdy MacDonald, Dover Spirit Lake Chamber of Commerce Friends of the Pend d’Oreille Trail Ross Longhini, Sandpoint Nordic Club Trails Advisory Group Jan Rumore Ryan Fobes The Trust for Public Land Jared Yost, Sandpoint Ryan Luttmann, PE U.S. Forest Service Jennifer Zung, Harmony Design Sandy Thomas, Pend Oreille Pedalers Jenny Van Ooyen, Saegen Neiman, INDIVIDUALS Idaho Conservation League Bonner County Planning Aaron Magee, Spirit Lake Chamber Jeremy Grimm, Sean Mirus, Schweitzer Mountain Resort Aaron Qualls, former Sandpoint Planner Shelby Rognstad, Sandpoint Mayor City of Sandpoint Planning Department John Finney Stan Galloway, Amy Morris, The Trust for Public Land John Gaddess, Idaho Department of Lands April Norton, LOR Foundation Idaho Department of Lands Steve Klatt, Angela Raymond John Linch Bonner County Parks & Waterways Annie Shaha, Mayor of Dover Jon Sayler Sue & Bob Padelford Bob Carlson, North Idaho Bikeways KayLeigh Miller Susan Drumheller, Bill Harp, Bonner County Kelley Hart, The Trust for Public Land Idaho Conservation League Brian Dunham Kurt Pavlat, BLM Susan Harris Bruce Demko Larry Davidson, North Idaho Bikeways Ted Runberg Cary Kelly, Bonner County Commissioner Leslie Marshall, Bonner County Tom Dabrowski, Idaho Trails Association Christa Finney, LPOSD Lisa Adair, Dover Tom Elliott, U.S. Forest Service Clare Marley, AICP Liz Johnson-Gebhardt, Priest Vicki Longhini, Sandpoint Nordic Club Clif Warren, North Idaho Bikeways Community Forest Connection Wayne Benner Dan Carlson, AICP Marc Kroetch, Spirit Lake Chamber Dan Gilfillan, U.S. Forest Service Margie Hall bonner county trails plan 5 andrea nagel nagel andrea Revett Lake 6 bonner county trails plan 1 Introduction “What makes a trail is the journey, deep and has 111 miles of shoreline. Sixty whether it’s on dirt, through a percent of Bonner County is publicly owned. railroad tunnel, over a boardwalk, Most of this publicly owned land is part of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests and the or along a scenic waterway. Trails Priest Lake State Forest. in all their variety connect us to our world, our history, and our Bonner County’s 1.1 million acres of private heritage of wild places.” and public lands provide a wide variety of trails and pathways, from city sidewalks to —STUART MACDONALD, mountaintop hiking and snowmobile and AMERICAN TRAILS MAGAZINE (2008) horseback trails that bridge winter, spring, summer, and fall. Bonner County has about Bonner County Background 660 miles of existing biking, hiking, walking, TRAILS ARE CENTRAL TO QUALITY OF LIFE IN and all-terrain vehicle (ATV) trails. Existing BONNER COUNTY and provide crucial access Bonner County Trails are shown in Figure 1a to the county’s lakes and rivers, public lands, . Existing snowmobile trails are shown in and towns. A recent study by Headwaters Figure 1b . While the existing trails attract Economics indicates that 75 percent of visitors and improve the lives of locals, this surveyed residents used local trails last Trails Plan highlights opportunities to expand year. Trails can link our landscapes and the use of trails for recreation, health and connect our communities, and the Trails fitness, commuting, and connecting to the Plan is an important tool in developing outdoors. The Trails Plan provides an inven- and documenting the community’s vision tory of existing trails and looks to the future for trails. for expansion and improvement of the county trails system. Stretching across Idaho’s panhandle, Bonner County is known for its towering mountains, Bonner County Trails Plan trout-filled streams, and stunning lakes. The In 2008, the Bonner County Commission county is surrounded by mountains—the met with local trail advocates to discuss the Selkirk Mountains, Bitterroot Mountains, development of a trails plan. The county’s and Cabinet Mountains. In the midst of these recently drafted land use code offered new 7,000-foot peaks lie rivers, lakes, and streams, opportunities. Soon Bonner County formed a including the Clark Fork River, Pend Oreille Trails Advisory Group and designated six trail River, Priest River, Priest Lake, and Lake Pend neighborhood “subareas.” The Trails Advisory Oreille. Bonner County covers 1,920 square Group represented a wide cross section of miles. Of this, 9 percent
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Introduction to Short-Season Gardening in Idaho by Stephen L
    SHORT-SEASON, HIGH-ALTITUDE GARDENING BULLETIN 857 Introduction to short-season gardening in Idaho by Stephen L. Love, Kathy Noble, and Stuart Parkinson INTRODUCTION Many of us who garden in Idaho face the challenges brought on by lack of summer warmth, spring and fall frost, extreme winter cold, or desiccation from frequent wind. Growing beautiful and productive plants in the high CONTENTS desert or mountain regions of Idaho requires unique approaches and an attention to detail that are rarely discussed in popular garden guides. INTRODUCTION . 1 DEFINING THE SHORT-SEASON, HIGH-ALTITUDE This publication introduces the Short-Season/High-Altitude Gardening series ZONE . 1 specifically designed to provide effective, comprehensive ideas for gardening IDAHO’S THREE SHORT-SEASON CLIMATES . 2 where Idaho’s unique combination of extreme climate, weather, geology, and NUANCES OF MICROCLIMATE . 4 Rural vs. Urban . 4 geography presents obstacles to successful gardening. Subsequent publications Slope and Aspect . 4 provide details on managing specific kinds of plants in the short-season garden. Local Weather Patterns . 4 DEFINING THE SHORT-SEASON, HIGH-ALTITUDE ZONE The Short-Season/High-Altitude Gardening series is for gardeners living within Idaho’s harshest climates, specifically those rated USDA hardiness YOU ARE A SHORT-SEASON, HIGH-ALTITUDE GARDENER IF: zone 4 or colder, situated at an elevation above 4,500 feet, or with a frost- free period of fewer than 110 days. Although many locales throughout the You live in Idaho at an elevation above 4,500 feet, OR state experience these conditions, they are most common in the upper Snake Your USDA hardiness zone is 4 or lower, OR River Valley, the southeastern and southern highlands, the high deserts north You have a frost-free growing season of 110 days or less of the Snake River, the central mountains, and the coldest valley and moun- tain locations in the northern panhandle.
    [Show full text]
  • Bathymetry, Morphology, and Lakebed Geologic Characteristics
    SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS MAP 3272 Bathymetry, Morphology, and Lakebed Geologic Characteristics Barton, G.J., and Dux, A.M., 2013, Bathymetry, Morphology, and Lakebed Geologic Characteristics of Potential U.S. Department of the Interior Prepared in cooperation with the Kokanee Salmon Spawning Habitat in Lake Pend Oreille, Bayview and Lakeview Quadrangles, Idaho science for a changing world U.S. Geological Survey IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME Abstract lake level of 2,062.5 ft above NGVD 1929 (figs. 4–6) has been maintained during the summer (normal maximum summer full Scenic Bay, includes 254 acres and 2.8 mi of shoreline bordered by a gentle-to-moderate-sloping landscape and steep mountains. Methods conditions vary within each study unit: 2,100 photographs were subsampled for Scenic Bay, 1,710 photographs were subsampled lake morphology, lakebed geologic units, and substrate embeddedness. Descriptions of the morphology, lakebed geology, and pool), with drawdowns in autumn to reach a minimum winter level. Before 1966, the winter lake level was variable, and an A second study unit, along the north shore of Idlewild Bay, includes 220 acres and 2.2 mi of shoreline bordered by a gentle-to- for Idlewild Bay, and 245 photographs were subsampled for Echo Bay. These photographs were reviewed, and additional embeddedness in the shore zone, rise zone, and open water in bays and the main stem of the lake are provided in figures 5–6. Kokanee salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) are a keystone species in Lake Pend Oreille in northern Idaho, historically exceptional fishery continued with the Albeni Falls Dam in operation.
    [Show full text]
  • Acknowledgments
    ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors wish to acknowledge the Mike Stimak, Bureau of Land Management, following individuals for their contributions Coeur d'Alene, Idaho - Photo Interpretation Team to selected sections of this document: Leader (Idaho) Liz Hill, USDA Forest Service, Kalispell, Montana Pat Bourgeron, The Nature Conservancy, Boulder, - Photo Interpretation Technical Advice Colorado - Potential Vegetation Settings John Lane, USDA Forest Service, Billings, Paul Hessburg, USDA Forest Service, Wenatchee, Montana - GIS Work Washington - Drainage Basin Settings- Subsampling Gary Raines, U.S. Geological Survey, Reno, Nevada - GIS Work Hope Humphries, The Nature Conservancy, Boulder, Colorado - Vegetation Response to Jim Barber, USDA Forest Service, Dillon, Climate Change Montana - GIS Work Sue Ferguson, Forestry Sciences Laboratory, Jim Menakis, USDA Forest Service, Missoula, Seattle, Washington - Climatology Montana - GIS Work Peggy Polichio, USDA Forest Service, Coeur The following individuals and groups also d'Alene, Idaho - Logistical Support provided important assistance to the John Caratti, Heritage Program, Helena, Montana development of information contained in - Data Analysis this document: Tim McGarvey, Heritage Program, Helena, Judy Tripp, USDA Forest Service, Missoula, Montana - Data Analysis Montana - Editorial Assistance Mary Manning, USDA Forest Service, Missoula, Cathy Maynard, USDA Forest Service, Helena, Montana - Data Analysis Montana - GIS Coordination Mick Quinn, Contractor, Missoula, Montana - NRIS, State Library, Helena,
    [Show full text]
  • Selkirk Mountains Grizzly Bear Recovery Area 2015 Research and Monitoring Progress Report
    SELKIRK MOUNTAINS GRIZZLY BEAR RECOVERY AREA 2015 RESEARCH AND MONITORING PROGRESS REPORT PREPARED BY WAYNE F. KASWORM, ALEX WELANDER, THOMAS G. RADANDT, JUSTIN E. TEISBERG, WAYNE L. WAKKINEN, MICHAEL PROCTOR, AND CHRISTOPHER SERVHEEN 2016 UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE GRIZZLY BEAR RECOVERY COORDINATOR'S OFFICE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA, MAIN HALL ROOM 309 MISSOULA, MONTANA 59812 (406) 243-4903 1 Abstract: Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) captured and monitored a radio collared sample of grizzly bears in the SMGBRZ from 1983 until 2002 to determine distribution, home ranges, cause specific mortality, reproductive rates, and population trend. This effort was suspended in 2003 due to funding constraints and management decisions. In cooperation with IDFG and the Panhandle National Forest (USFS) this effort was reinitiated during 2012 with personnel from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). During 2013 the program was expanded with funding from IDFG, USFS, several sources in British Columbia (BC), and USFWS. This cooperative research and monitoring effort was expanded to involve Idaho Department of Lands, the Kalispel Tribe, the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in 2014 Numbers of females with cubs in the Selkirk Mountains grizzly bear recovery zone (SMGBRZ) varied from 0–4 per year and averaged 1.5 per year from 2010–15. Human caused mortality averaged 1.7 bears per year and 0.7 females per year. Ten human caused mortalities during 2010-15 include 4 females (all BC) and 6 males (one US and five BC). Human caused mortalities during 2010-15 were four adult females (one vehicle collision and three under investigation), one adult male (management), and four subadult males (two management, one mistaken identity, and one self-defense).
    [Show full text]
  • Greater Sandpoint Greenprint Final Report
    Greater Sandpoint Greenprint Final Report Greater Sandpoint Greenprint Final Report The Trust for Public Land March Printed on 100% recycled paper. © 2016 The Trust for Public Land. The Trust for Public Land creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. tpl.org Table of contents Preface ....................................................................................................................................... 4 Executive summary .................................................................................................................. 5 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................... 6 2. Study area ....................................................................................................................... 9 3. Community engagement ........................................................................................... 12 4. Mapping conservation values .................................................................................... 15 5. Greater Sandpoint Greenprint action plan .............................................................. 26 6. Profiles in conservation ............................................................................................... 28 7. Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 30 Appendix A: Participants Lists .............................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Research Natural Areas on National Forest System Lands in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Western Wyoming: a Guidebook for Scientists, Managers, and Educators
    USDA United States Department of Agriculture Research Natural Areas on Forest Service National Forest System Lands Rocky Mountain Research Station in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, General Technical Report RMRS-CTR-69 Utah, and Western Wyoming: February 2001 A Guidebook for Scientists, Managers, and E'ducators Angela G. Evenden Melinda Moeur J. Stephen Shelly Shannon F. Kimball Charles A. Wellner Abstract Evenden, Angela G.; Moeur, Melinda; Shelly, J. Stephen; Kimball, Shannon F.; Wellner, Charles A. 2001. Research Natural Areas on National Forest System Lands in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Western Wyoming: A Guidebook for Scientists, Managers, and Educators. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-69. Ogden, UT: U.S. Departmentof Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 84 p. This guidebook is intended to familiarize land resource managers, scientists, educators, and others with Research Natural Areas (RNAs) managed by the USDA Forest Service in the Northern Rocky Mountains and lntermountain West. This guidebook facilitates broader recognitionand use of these valuable natural areas by describing the RNA network, past and current research and monitoring, management, and how to use RNAs. About The Authors Angela G. Evenden is biological inventory and monitoring project leader with the National Park Service -NorthernColorado Plateau Network in Moab, UT. She was formerly the Natural Areas Program Manager for the Rocky Mountain Research Station, Northern Region and lntermountain Region of the USDA Forest Service. Melinda Moeur is Research Forester with the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain ResearchStation in Moscow, ID, and one of four Research Natural Areas Coordinators from the Rocky Mountain Research Station. J. Stephen Shelly is Regional Botanist and Research Natural Areas Coordinator with the USDA Forest Service, Northern Region Headquarters Office in Missoula, MT.
    [Show full text]
  • Survival and Mortality of Translocated Woodland Caribou Author(S): Bradley B
    Survival and Mortality of Translocated Woodland Caribou Author(s): Bradley B. Compton, Peter Zager and Gregg Servheen Reviewed work(s): Source: Wildlife Society Bulletin, Vol. 23, No. 3 (Autumn, 1995), pp. 490-496 Published by: Allen Press Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3782959 . Accessed: 07/11/2012 15:12 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. Allen Press is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Wildlife Society Bulletin. http://www.jstor.org Caribou survival Survival and mortality of translocated woodland caribou Bradley B. Compton, Peter Zager, and Gregg Servheen AbstractWe monitoredsurvival of 60 woodland caribou (Rangifertarandus) translocatedfrom BritishColumbia to the SelkirkMountains of northernIdaho betweenMarch 1987 and February1992. This translocationwas to assistin recoveryof the endangeredSelkirk population. For all translocatedcaribou combined,estimated annual survivalrates rangedfrom 0.65-0.94 and wereconsistent with declining established populations. No differences(P > 0.10) in survivalwere foundbetween male and femalecaribou or be- tweenmountain and northernecotypes. Causes ofdeath included unknown (n = 14), pre- dation(n = 7), other(n = 4), and human-caused(n = 2), withsummer accounting for the greatestproportion (53o/o). Emigrationof 7 mountainecotype animals also was a loss to the population.
    [Show full text]
  • Idaho Mountain Goat Management Plan (2019-2024)
    Idaho Mountain Goat Management Plan 2019-2024 Prepared by IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME June 2019 Recommended Citation: Idaho Mountain Goat Management Plan 2019-2024. Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Boise, USA. Team Members: Paul Atwood – Regional Wildlife Biologist Nathan Borg – Regional Wildlife Biologist Clay Hickey – Regional Wildlife Manager Michelle Kemner – Regional Wildlife Biologist Hollie Miyasaki– Wildlife Staff Biologist Morgan Pfander – Regional Wildlife Biologist Jake Powell – Regional Wildlife Biologist Bret Stansberry – Regional Wildlife Biologist Leona Svancara – GIS Analyst Laura Wolf – Team Leader & Regional Wildlife Biologist Contributors: Frances Cassirer – Wildlife Research Biologist Mark Drew – Wildlife Veterinarian Jon Rachael – Wildlife Game Manager Additional copies: Additional copies can be downloaded from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game website at fishandgame.idaho.gov Front Cover Photo: ©Hollie Miyasaki, IDFG Back Cover Photo: ©Laura Wolf, IDFG Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) adheres to all applicable state and federal laws and regulations related to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, gender, disability or veteran’s status. If you feel you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility of IDFG, or if you desire further information, please write to: Idaho Department of Fish and Game, P.O. Box 25, Boise, ID 83707 or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Federal Assistance, Mailstop: MBSP-4020, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203, Telephone: (703) 358-2156. This publication will be made available in alternative formats upon request. Please contact IDFG for assistance. Costs associated with this publication are available from IDFG in accordance with Section 60-202, Idaho Code.
    [Show full text]
  • Biking the Idaho Panhandle on the Rails to Trails Trip Guide Biking the Idaho Pan Handle
    Biking the Idaho Panhandle on the Rails to Trails Trip Guide Biking the Idaho Pan Handle Oregon River Experiences office: 503-563-1500 email: [email protected] web site: www.oregonriver.com Idaho Panhandle Rails To Trails Bicycling The Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes is one of the most spectacular trails in the western United States. This trail along with the Centennial and Hiawatha Trails make for an area full of geology and mining history. The 73-mile Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes paved trail spans the Idaho panhandle between Mullan and Plummer. It was created through a unique partnership between the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Union Pacific Railroad, the U. S. Government, and the State of Idaho. The trail meanders through the historic Silver Valley, along the Coeur d’Alene River past scenic Lake Coeur d’Alene and through rolling farmlands to Plummer. Twenty developed trailheads provide entry points, and there are twenty scenic waysides along the route with tables to stop for a picnic or a short rest. The Hiawatha trail, is the crown jewel of our nation’s Rails to Trails routes. This special day takes you through nine train tunnels and across seven trestles with views of the towering Bitterroot Mountains. Enjoy a day cycling around and exploring the lake side town of Coeur d’Alenes on the historic North Idaho Centennial trail. This trail meanders along the waterfront and takes in the history of the town. Local History Silver was discovered in the area in 1884 and soon a rail line was constructed to support the growing mining, timber, and supply industries.
    [Show full text]
  • Cabinet-Yaak and Selkirk Mountains Grizzly Bear Monitoring Update 610/2019
    Cabinet-Yaak and Selkirk Mountains Grizzly Bear Monitoring Update 610/2019 Wayne Kasworm, US Fish and Wildlife Service, 385 Fish Hatchery Road, Libby, MT 59923 (406) 293-4161 ext 205 [email protected] Reports: https://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/es/grizzlyBear.php Our 2019 field season began in early May with the arrival of our field technicians for work and training. We spent almost a week on training before crews dispersed to the field. We have two bear capture teams and one hair collection team in the Cabinet-Yaak plus one trap team and two hair collection teams in the Selkirk Mountains. Crews began capture and hair collection efforts on May 18. Capture efforts will emphasize recapture of existing collar bears. The manufacturer of our radio collars alerted us to a software glitch that is causing many of our collars to malfunction. This year’s collars have had the software updated to avoid the issue. Selkirk Mountains Research Monitoring We began 2019 with five grizzly bears collared in the Selkirk Mountains (3 females and 2 males). Capture activities have resulted in the recapture and collar change on one of the females (Figure 1). Trail cameras at the capture site indicated she was accompanied by a 2 year-old offspring, but that bear was not captured. Trapping will continue near the international border to attempt recapture of the other two females. Cabinet-Yaak Research Monitoring We began 2019 with six collared grizzly bears in the Cabinet-Yaak (2 females and 4 males). One of the females was observed in May with two new cubs.
    [Show full text]
  • Idaho Moose Management Plan 2020-2025
    Idaho Moose Management Plan 2020-2025 DRAFT December 10, 2019 1 This page intentionally left blank. 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Shiras Moose (Alces alces shirasi) occur across much of Idaho, except for the southwest corner of the state. Moose are highly valued by both hunters and non-hunters, providing consumptive and non-consumptive opportunities that have economic and aesthetic value. Over the past century their known range has expanded from small areas of northern and eastern Idaho to their current distribution. Population size also increased during this time, likely peaking around the late 1990s or early 2000s. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) is concerned that current survey data, anecdotal information and harvest data indicate moose have recently declined in parts of Idaho. Several factors may be impacting moose populations both positively and negatively including predation, habitat change (e.g., roads, development, timber harvest), changing climate, disease or parasites and combinations thereof. IDFG was established to preserve, protect, perpetuate and manage all of Idaho’s fish and wildlife. As such, species management plans are written to set statewide management direction to help fulfill IDFG’s mission. Idaho’s prior moose management plan (Idaho Department of Fish and Game 1990) addressed providing a quality hunting experience, the vulnerability of moose to illegal harvest, protecting their habitat, improving controlled hunt drawing odds and expanding moose populations into suitable ranges. The intent of this revision to the 1990 Moose Management Plan is to provide guidance for IDFG and their partners to implement management actions that will aid in protection and management of moose populations in Idaho and guide harvest season recommendations for the next 6 years.
    [Show full text]
  • Characterization of Ecoregions of Idaho
    1 0 . C o l u m b i a P l a t e a u 1 3 . C e n t r a l B a s i n a n d R a n g e Ecoregion 10 is an arid grassland and sagebrush steppe that is surrounded by moister, predominantly forested, mountainous ecoregions. It is Ecoregion 13 is internally-drained and composed of north-trending, fault-block ranges and intervening, drier basins. It is vast and includes parts underlain by thick basalt. In the east, where precipitation is greater, deep loess soils have been extensively cultivated for wheat. of Nevada, Utah, California, and Idaho. In Idaho, sagebrush grassland, saltbush–greasewood, mountain brush, and woodland occur; forests are absent unlike in the cooler, wetter, more rugged Ecoregion 19. Grazing is widespread. Cropland is less common than in Ecoregions 12 and 80. Ecoregions of Idaho The unforested hills and plateaus of the Dissected Loess Uplands ecoregion are cut by the canyons of Ecoregion 10l and are disjunct. 10f Pure grasslands dominate lower elevations. Mountain brush grows on higher, moister sites. Grazing and farming have eliminated The arid Shadscale-Dominated Saline Basins ecoregion is nearly flat, internally-drained, and has light-colored alkaline soils that are Ecoregions denote areas of general similarity in ecosystems and in the type, quality, and America into 15 ecological regions. Level II divides the continent into 52 regions Literature Cited: much of the original plant cover. Nevertheless, Ecoregion 10f is not as suited to farming as Ecoregions 10h and 10j because it has thinner soils.
    [Show full text]