Revegetation Status Update for the Kootenai River Habitat Restoration Program

The first year of construction for the Bonners Ferry Islands restoration project was completed in 2015 and included revegetation at two constructed islands, and on the north bank of the Kootenai River as part of a larger scale restoration program to help native fish, provide habitat and increase the food web. Revegetation included planting native trees and shrubs, planting live willow cuttings, seeding, and installing a large amount of dead brush to protect live plants from deer and other wildlife.

Right now, many people are noticing brown “vegetation” on the islands, but it is important to understand that the brown color is from dead brush and branches that were installed last fall to protect live plants. Many of the branches came from conifer trees, so they still had green needles that persisted throughout much of last winter. The needles have finally turned brown as expected, similar to how discarded Christmas trees turn brown after a few months. The brown vegetation on the islands does not mean the plants have died. These patches of branches and brush, or “brush bundles,” are designed to simulate dense vegetation that grows in riparian areas and on islands, and they help protect young plants from deer, beavers and other wildlife that eat plants as part of their diet.

Green leaves of the planted native trees and shrubs are beginning to appear amidst the brush. As the summer approaches, more and more green will become visible on the islands.

These plants will continue to grow and mature, and they are expected to fill in the spaces between the brush bundles and eventually grow taller than the brush. Over time, the brush will decompose and help build soil on the newly created islands.

Now that the Kootenai River stage is high, plants on the islands are partly under water. These plants are native riparian species and they are adapted to being under water or partially submerged for several days or even weeks during the growing season. Some of the willow species, such as sandbar willow, are planted at lower elevations on the islands and these willows commonly survive up to six weeks under water during spring and early summer. Other shrubs such as alder and dogwood were planted slightly higher, but these plants can also survive days or weeks under water. Plants like chokecherry and rose are less tolerant of being submerged for long periods and these were concentrated on the highest parts of the islands. The current high water is giving last year’s planting a much-needed watering, and once the water recedes, green leaves and new growth will be visible as the new vegetation starts to establish on the islands.Crews will be out monitoring the vegetation closely during the summer of 2016, and the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho will continue to provide progress updates and close-up photos so everyone can see the progress. The Tribe will begin construction of the second part of the Bonners Ferry Islands project later this summer. Stay tuned for more news about this project.

The Bonners Ferry Islands project is part of a larger Kootenai Tribe of Idaho program, the Kootenai River Habitat Restoration Program, which is funded by the Bonneville Power Administration.

Additional information and progress updates are available on the Kootenai Tribe’s website: www.restoringthekootenai.org.