News Release

For Release: December 10, 2008
Contact: Heather Tiel-Nelson (208) 736-2352

BLM Partners with the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes to Plant Willows

TWIN FALLS, ID — Following upon the seed purchase made from the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes a few weeks ago, the Twin Falls District Bureau of Land Management (BLM) continued what has become a very successful coordination with the Tribes for additional rehabilitation projects in areas burned by the Murphy Complex Wildfire of 2007. 

In late November, a 16-person crew from the Shoshone-Paiute Fire Department traveled to Dorsey Creek in the Jarbidge Field Office to plant willows.  Jarbidge Field Office fisheries biologists Kate Forster and Dan Armichardy, accompanied the planting crew to the site. 

Riparian vegetation along Dorsey Creek had been destroyed by the Murphy Complex wildfire and no willows remained.  Tribal members had cut willows at Duck Valley several weeks earlier and hoped that replanted willows along two stretches of the creek would quickly re-establish.  The crew planted about 2,125 willows in one area on the first day.  On the second day, the crew moved to the upper site, which was much drier, and planted an additional 1,125 willows.  Originally, the BLM had hoped to plant about 2,100 willows, but the crew exceeded all expectations and planted about 3,250 willows in two days.  Brent Hunter, Shoshone-Paiute Fire Chief, said the crew was excited about the work and hoped that the crew could participate in future planting projects with the BLM. 

Willows are an essential component of riparian ecosystems in the Great Basin.  They provide ecological diversity within plant communities and tend to prevent streams from down-cutting or cutting a straight channel.  Their dense root matrix can effectively trap and filter sediment, thus improving water quality.  Willows also help riparian areas absorb and release floodwaters more slowly over a period of time.  This sponge-like function minimizes flood damage and sustains higher water flows later in the year.  The willows planted along Dorsey Creek will provide additional wildlife habitat and improve water quality, facilitating recovery of the burned area.

—BLM—