More than 90 volunteers made quick work of planting 550 shrubs at the City of Boise’s Hyatt Hidden Lakes Reserve on April 14 as part of the Boise River Enhancement Network’s cooperative project to improve wildlife habitat and decrease fire risk. Re-establishing native plants and controlling weeds is recommended in the Boise River Enhancement Plan. The volunteers included members of Rotary Clubs from across the Treasure Valley and 32 youth from Boy Scout Troop 100 and the Idaho Fine Arts Academy Interact Club.
Martha Brabec, Boise Parks and Recreation Restoration Specialist said, “This site used to be a gravel pit, and most of the native vegetation was removed. We’re rebuilding the natural habitat and creating important diversity for the birds that live here and stop over during migration. Thousands of new plants will be in the ground by the time the project is complete.”
The project aligned perfectly with Rotary International’s 1.2 Million Tree Planting Challenge; a national campaign to plant one tree for each member of Rotary. It also was a great fit for Jayanth Mouli, a sophomore at Boise High School who selected this conservation project for his Eagle Scout service project.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of native plants destined for planting at the reserve were transplanted to “conetainers” for the summer. Members of the Silver Sage Girl Scout Council, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Idaho and others had gathered and planted the seeds in the fall. The seedlings needed bigger quarters, and the volunteers carefully separated the sprouts and replanted them in cone-shaped containers that provide plenty of space. Sean Finn of the Golden Eagle Audubon Society said, “Growing plants is an exciting way for kids to be part of the Hyatt project. It’s a win-win because plants grown from local seeds have a better chance to survive.”
The new plants are already changing the look of the hillsides at the reserve, but it’s critical to keep down the weeds that can out-compete the native plants. On April 25, 25 volunteer Weed Warriors took to the reserve with trowels and shovels eagerly digging out thistle, teasel and other weeds. Martha Brabec identified the weeds and demonstrated the best method to use. Many of the volunteers visit the reserve regularly, and they promised to continue the weeding on their own now that they have guidance.
Nestled in a residential and commercial area in West Boise, the ponds, wetlands and hillsides of the reserve blend together to create a unique pocket of wildlife habitat in the center of urban Treasure Valley. The reserve enjoys year-round use by people attracted by the rich bird life, the wide paths and the outstanding scenery. The 18-month multicultural habitat enhancement project is led by the Land Trust of the Treasure Valley, Boise River Enhancement Network and City of Boise Department of Parks and Recreation.
Project partners include U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, Idaho Office of Refugees by Jannus, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Idaho, Golden Eagle Audubon Society, Intermountain Bird Observatory, Boise State University, College of Western Idaho, The Wetlands Group, Idaho Weed Awareness Campaign, Rotary International and Partners for Clean Water.