Riverside Chat with Artist Benny Merris
2025-01-25 12:00 - 14:00 (America/Boise) | ID
Join BREN and meet artist Benny Merris at The Common Well by Fort Builder, Saturday Jan. 25 from 12-2 110 W 31St Street, Garden City.

As part of the expanding Art Program, The Common Well has welcomed home New York-based artist Benny Merris for a solo exhibition and the lighting of new public artwork. Coinciding with Winter Solstice, IN LOVE WITH THE WORLD, came to life this December at The Common Well and features photographs from Merris’ ongoing series, An Other Another. IN LOVE WITH THE WORLD includes photographs Merris made this past summer in the Boise foothills, Boise River, Payette Lake in McCall and in Lost River Range, Idaho, during the 2017 total eclipse. Merris, who is based out of Brooklyn, New York, often uses an iphone to take his photographs and has long considered the iphone a lightbox. Not only does this exhibition mark his first solo show in his home state of Idaho, but it’s the first time he’s had his images turned into transparencies and displayed in a giant light box. The 2-story, former Culligan sign, is a lighted box that illuminates at night via a photocell making it visible from the adjacent highway where passersby can also see the Boise foothills in the distance. This exciting exhibition officially opened on December 5, 2024. The gallery portion closes on January 31, 2025, but the outdoor light box installation will remain up until December 2025 when it is replaced with the work of our next featured artist.

Riverside Chat with Christian Petrich
2025-02-11 12:00 - 13:00 | ID
Riverside Chat with Christian Petrich
A River Runs Through It: The Boise River and the Treasure Valley Aquifer System

Tuesday February 11th 12-1 at the Downtown Boise Library or register for Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/…/register/NpUDTLhFSDK36NzIHDIUIw

It’s no secret – the Treasure Valley population is growing rapidly. Will we have enough water in the coming decades to meet the needs of a growing population? This riverside chat will begin with a brief review of the Treasure Valley aquifer system and its connection to the Boise River. We will then explore options for meeting growing municipal water demand, discuss the role that the Boise River will play in meeting this demand, and consider possible impacts of climate change on the Boise River and the Treasure Valley water supply.

Christian Petrich is a hydrologist with over 35 years of academic and professional experience in water-supply planning, hydrologic investigations, numerical modeling, and water rights. He has graduate degrees in civil engineering and geology, and he has been registered as a professional engineer, professional geologist, certified water-rights examiner, and certified mediator. Dr. Petrich was a co-founder of SPF Water Engineering, which was subsequently acquired by HDR.

The WaterShed Grand Reopening Celebration
2025-03-15 10:00 - 16:00 | ID
The WaterShed Grand Reopening Celebration

Date: 3/15/2025 10:00 AM – 3/15/2025 4:00 PM
Location: The WaterShed (11818 Joplin Rd, Boise, ID 83714)

The WaterShed Grand Reopening Celebration

11818 W. Joplin Road, Ancell Avenue Entrance B
Boise, ID 83714
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
The WaterShed is reopening with NEW all-ages, hands-on activities. Discover your connection to the Boise River watershed through new exhibits plus our river campus and public art collection. Be among the first to explore the new exhibit hall on opening day by reserving your FREE tickets now at this link.
Please reserve tickets for all members of your party. Choose a 30-minute ticket window for your entry time. You are welcome to explore the outdoor river campus and activity tent without a ticket during the hours of 10:00-4:00.
Opening day events include

Ribbon cutting ceremony (10:00-10:30)
Activity tent (11:00-4:00)
Trash fashion by local designer Shaun Muscolo (10:30-12:30)
Food available for purchase through The Idaho Crepe Company (10:00-1:00)
Cookies and refreshments
Free Lakeshore Learning Kids of Idaho Activity Kits provided by the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children, and more!

Questions? Contact us at Watershed@cityofboise.org

Riverside Chat with Tate Libunao - Conclusions from the Crayfish Mercury Project
2025-03-26 12:00 - 13:00 | ID
Join BREN and Tate Libunao as we discuss the data and implications from the Crayfish Mercury Study. This study concluded in 2024, much to the disappointment of our volunteer crayfishers who loved this opportunity to get in the river.
Wednesday March 26th, 12-1 Mountain Time. Online only.
Register for Zoom.

Celebrate Earth Day with BREN at the City of Boise's Earth Day Event
2025-04-19 10:00 - 16:00 | ID

BREN Annual Meeting at the Boise WaterShed
2025-04-24 18:00 - 20:00 | ID
Join BREN for our annual meeting and check out the new WaterShed!
This event does not require a ticket but please click here to RSVP to EventBrite and let us know you are coming.

Riverside Chat: Adam Bass - Stories from an Outfitter, Lessons Learned on the Boise River
2025-05-12 12:00 - 13:00 | ID
Riverside Chat, Monday, May 12th 12-1 pm, with Adam Bass. Adam, a past BREN board member, now owns and operates Boise River Outdoor Opportunities – BROO. He will speak about being an outfitter on the Boise River, lessons learned, and teach us how to remain safe when rafting. Join in person at the downtown Library! 3rd floor or by Zoom. Register at the link below
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/IBdqXfPOTluXV8BJdXZ45w

City of Boise Water Jamboree
2025-08-16 11:00 - 15:00 | ID
Celebrate 75 years of keeping the Boise River clean at Ann Morrison Park on Saturday, August 16 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Get your face painted before you hit the river, grab a post-float snack, explore local water and river organizations and jam out to some great music – all in celebration of our city’s gem, the Boise River!
75 years ago, the city built Water Renewal Services to stop pollution of the Boise River, which was, at the time, littered with trash and waste. After building Water Renewal Services, the river started to run clear again and trout returned to our waters, leading to the clean, clear, healthy river that we know and love today.
This event is located in the center of Ann Morrison Park next to the fountain. Parking may be limited.

----------------------------------------------------------------- 'Your Mother Doesn't Work Here' Annual Boise River Clean Up.
2025-09-20 09:00 - 12:30 | ID
We don’t know why people trash the river, but we do know we have amazing and underappreciated people who take time to clean it up! In acknowledgement of those doing the often-invisible labor of picking up after others the first annual ‘Your Mother Doesn’t Work Here’ Boise River Cleanup was held in 2023. The 2025 community wide cleanup will be held Saturday, September 20th. Bring your friends, family and co-workers and help clean up the banks of the Boise River. Trash bags and gloves will be provided or bring your own. Trash will be weighed at the end of the event and added to the 2025 total.
Location Glenwood Bridge area: Please arrive at 9 am to either Westmoreland Park on the north side of the river at 6515 N Glenwood OR the Greenbelt parking lot on the South side of the river at Glenwood & Marigold
Please complete the form below to register.
2025 ‘Your Mother Doesn’t Work Here’ Sign Up Form

Love at First Flush, A Valentine's Tour of Your Water Renewal Facility
2026-02-13 17:30 - 21:00 | ID
February 13th, 5:30-9:00 Love at First Flush – A Valentine’s Tour of your Water Renewal Facility. Join the WaterShed for a sunset tour of the facility, followed by a plated dinner, chocolate fondue and card making. RSVP and find more information here.

IRU Annual Spring Boise River Cleanup
2026-04-11 12:00 - 14:00 | ID
Idaho Rivers United is hosting stations across the greenbelt from Boise to Eagle to remove debris from the river. They will provide needed supplies, or you can bring your own. Sign up at the Idaho Rivers United website by April 7, 2026

Event is Saturday April 11th 12-2 pm.

City of Boise 2026 Earth Day Event
2026-04-18 10:00 - 14:00 | ID
Visit BREN’s booth at the City of Boise’s Earth Day Event. Saturday April 18th. 10 -2 at the Boise WaterShed. This is a family friendly event so bring the kids!
6411 N. Ancell Avenue, Boise, ID 83714

City Nature Challenge with BREN at Kristin Armstrong Park
2026-04-24 18:00 - 19:00 | kristin armstrong municipal, 500 S Walnut St, Boise, ID, 83712
Join BREN for a relaxed evening walk along the Boise River as part of the City Nature Challenge. Along the way, you’ll hear updates on BREN’s Kristen Armstrong Park Bank Repair Project and learn how iNaturalist observations help grow our understanding of local plants and wildlife. We’ll meet at the shelter at Kristen Armstrong Park for a casual walk-and-talk focused on the river, science, and the place we all care about. iNaturalist allows users to upload photos and recordings of plants and animals for identification to help document biodiversity of an area. No iNaturalist user experience needed, but having the iNaturalist app downloaded on your phone beforehand is recommended.
Friday, April 24 | 6:00–7:00 PM
Kristin Armstrong Municipal Park
5000 S Walnut St, Boise
RSVP on Eventbrite

Cottonwood Gather and Grow and Nature Walk
2026-06-11 18:00 - 19:00 | ID
“The best time to plant a tree was 30 years ago. The second best time is now.”

Join BREN and help plant a tree for our Black Cottonwood Gather and Grow Project! Each June we collect cottonwood seeds, germinate them and in two years those trees are deployed at the Boise River. Many of the cottonwood trees at the river are at the end of their lifespan or are runners from a parent tree, making them genetically the same. Each BREN tree is genetically unique and increases the genetic diversity of the tree canopy creating a healthier system overall.

We will start with a nature walk to collect seeds and talk about our upcoming project at Kristin Armstrong Municipal Park. Volunteers will then plant seeds in our germination trays. All supplies are provided by BREN, we just need you to show up ready to assist! This event goes from 6-7 pm. We will meet near the picnic shelters, watch for the BREN signs. 500 S Walnut St, Boise, ID 83712
