Groups join forces to restore creek

BOUNDARY COUNTY — The Kootenai Valley Resource Initiative and the U.S. Forest Service are joining forces for the Boulder Creek project.

Restoration objectives include creating species diversity and resiliency in vegetation to reduce potential of unwanted wildland fire, insect and disease epidemics, maintaining and improving the watershed hydrologic condition, enhancing fish and wildlife habitat, providing for outdoor recreational opportunities, and providing for utilization of a variety of wood products.  

The aquatic ecosystems in Boulder Creek and its tributaries are in need of attention to reduce the risk of sediment from entering the stream’s system from various sources, officials said. The sediment can be introduced by many sources, of which include unmaintained roads, trails or recreation sites.

The goal is to also improve and maintain the forest landscape with vegetation that is more resilient. The landscape pattern will be more resistant to insects, disease and stand-replacing wildfires, officials said.

Protecting the communication site infrastructure from potential wildfire damage is another objective to the team efforts. By reducing the hazardous fuels around the facilities and besides access roads, officials said it will protect the site and help with firefighter safety. Some of the goals will be accomplished by returning the role of fire back into the ecosystem, disturbing the stability of the fuels and create “ a mosaic of stand structures” along the landscape. This will increase the resiliency and provide opportunity in option for future fires. Area use will also be improved to provide recreation sites and experiences to Boulder Creek. Visitors will be provided opportunities to learn about local mining and ranching history. Illegal ATV use is currently an issue that is going to be improved by connecting the trail systems.

Currently, the wildlife habitat is similar in size, which is not conducive to promoting long-term persistence and stability of wildlife. By diversifying the ecosystem that composed of historical variability vegetation, it will improve the forest, resemble historic patterns. Looking at the road system and potentially storing some roads will also allow the Forest Service to meet the standards of the Grizzly Bear Access Amendment. Economic potential for the community will help grow our local economy. With the restoration project, the vegetation removal and improvements for recreational capacity and potential will increase. Any forest products produced as a result of the restoration will also help our community.