Mission & Vision
To promote a sustainable economy and productive working landscapes in the Salmon River region of Central Idaho. Salmon Valley Stewardship works to build a community where stewardship of the natural resources is at the core of the social, economic and ecological vitality of the region.
Participants
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Structure & Funding
Salmon Valley Stewardship operates under the guidance of a small board and a paid staff of six. They also act as a fiscal sponsor for the Working Together coalition of local nonprofits and participate in the Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition. With that group of diverse organizations, landowners, and businesses, they’ve attended the Western Week in Washington to let members of Congress and others in Washington, DC know how natural resource policy affects rural communities.
Salmon Valley Stewardship is funded by a variety of sources including private foundations, fee-for service, and grants from federal agencies, and individual fundraising or revenue generating events and services. |
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Goals of Work
Overcoming ChallengesDuring her presentation at the 2016 Future West workshop, Salmon Valley Stewardship's executive director, Toni Ruth, spoke about her experience as part of the Lemhi Forest Restoration Group, a group Salmon Valley Stewardship coordinates. After two successful projects, the group reached an impasse during the development of their third major project's Environmental Impact Statement. Instead of conceding consensus defeat, the group recommitted to the process, went back to their ground rules, and eventually reached a workable recommendation for the Forest Service by focusing on the group's core mission: landscape resilience.
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Scope of Work
Forest Restoration: Salmon Valley Stewardship works collaboratively on projects on public and private lands that restore forest health and create economic opportunities and benefit in Lemhi County. By prioritizing projects that reduce the impact and risk of wildfire they help ensure the long-term ecological health of public and private lands and economic vitality of communities in the county. Projects support defensible space and fire-wise programs and assist in the implementation of the Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Additonally, the group is committed to sharing information between collaborative members and the public to increase shared understanding about forest restoration issues. Local Foods: Salmon Valley Stewardship has been committed to strengthening the local food network since their inception. Enlisting the community and volunteer power, they convened the Salmon Local Foods group five years ago, to change the local food system and mitigate widespread community hunger using resources within the community. In 2008, they founded the Lemhi County Farmers Market, an economic incubator for start-up agriculture enterprises. They worked to start a community garden in 2010, and, in 2012, they worked to distill the regulations surround the use of local produce and farm-fresh eggs in restaurants. That year also saw the beginning of the Backyard Agriculture Workshop series, which helps to educate community members about growing home gardens, food preservation, cooking, and nutrition. Salmon Valley Stewardship has also formed a partnership with Salmon FFA on a county-wide fruit tree gleaning project, which donates excess fruit to local food banks and offers education on food preservation techniques. In 2013, the group initiated a SNAP (food stamp) program at the Lemhi County Farmers Market. Education and Outreach: In August 2010, with Idaho Department of Fish & Game and other conservation partners, Salmon Valley Stewardship co-sponsored a “Smart Building in Riparian Areas” workshop for realtors, builders, and landowners. They also developed a Stream Care Guide for property owners in the Upper Salmon River Watershed. Hands on the Land: In 2012, the Bureau of Land Management established Salmon as a Hands on the Land site. Hands on the Land is a nationwide program that enriches learning with outdoor education opportunities to engage the next generation of stewards. Stream of Dreams: Salmon Valley Stewardship developed a project, designed to educate students in the Salmon schools about fish, migration, life cycles, riverine ecosystem, and the importance of our watershed, to showcase the town's salmon and steelhead legacy. It also funded a fish mural along Highway 93 South. |
Trails and Recreation: Salmon Valley Stewardship is part of the Salmon Area Trails effort. In 2012, the committee’s action plan established several goals that will:
Rangelands: Salmon Valley Stewardship’s Range Program focuses on the collection of vegetation and wildlife data on rangelands in Lemhi and Custer counties to better inform the management of working landscapes. Crews work with public land management agencies, ranching groups, and wildlife management agencies to collect vegetation and ground cover data, which provides an idea of present rangeland condition, future rangeland health trends, and is used in the analysis of grazing permit renewals. Salmon Valley Stewardship also works in collaboration with Idaho Department of Fish & Game, the Salmon-Challis National Forest, and BLM to monitor the greater sage grouse in the Lemhi Valley. Technicians use radio telemetry to track birds with radio collars to monitor seasonal sage grouse movement and habitat selection. In the summer months, range staff sample vegetation surrounding nests to better understand sage grouse and their nesting habitat. In addition to helping public agencies keep up with their responsibility to monitor rangelands, the group is dedicated to sharing information with ranchers and other interested members of the public, and learning from the vast amount of local knowledge in the area. Community Planning: Communities dependent upon natural resources and dominated by public lands have to be resilient to change to survive. Salmon Valley Stewardship works with partners to find strategies to create and foster a more resilient community. They are also an advocate for policies and projects that position the community to succeed in the midst of changing conditions. |