Conservation Partnership Protects Historic Site

Equipped with water-jets, sledgehammers, and shovels, NRCS and Tribal employees, volunteers, and Federal officials recently converged at the Snake River’s edge to plant hundreds of native willows to help stabilize its banks.  For six years, Idaho NRCS, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, and the Bureau of Reclamation have been continuously working to prevent the river’s wandering waters from destroying the Fort Hall national historic landmark and Oregon Trail stopping point.

“This is a continuing effort until we see the river back off completely,” said NRCS wetland ecologist Chris Hoag.  “We’re using streambank soil bioengineering practices, or vegetation treatments, to restore the streambank.”

“We planted willows to roughen up the banks, get some silt deposition to raise the east bank near the old Fort Hall sitein an attempt to move the river away from the West bank.  The roots and the willows themselves also stabilize the banks so that it stops eroding," said Hoag.  “If you look closely, you can actually see the waters slowing as they move away from the bank.”

Funded through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the conservation practices applied at the Fort Hall site will be used along eroding streambanks throughout the State.  Benefits include improved water quality, the trapping of productive soils, water temperature control, and enhanced wildlife habitat.

In previous years, partners installed structural practices like logjams and rock barbs to slow the water and help secure the banks — all part of the comprehensive stabilization strategy.
Your contact is Jody Fagan, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 208-685-6978.