Lemhi Regional Land Trust
PO Box 871 Salmon, Idaho 83467(208) 756 - 8879info@lemhilandtrust.org
PO Box 871 Salmon, Idaho 83467(208) 756 - 8879info@lemhilandtrust.org
Past Events
Weed Spray Day
Spray Day at Kenney Creek Ranch
May 25, 2010
LRLT staff and volunteers participated in one of the many Lemhi County weed spray days host by the Lemhi Cooperative Weed Managment Area on May 25th. Kenney Creek ranch was sprayed for houndstongue, burdock, and spotted knapweed. This was a great way to help protect our conserved lands. Thank you to the Student Conservation Association, Salmon Valley Stewardship, the Tonsmeire family, and Tracy Kreckler. Your help was greatly appreciated!
Land Stewardship Workshop
August 21 and 22, 2009
Hosted by Heart of the Rockies Initiative
During summer 2009, LRLT put on a Land Stewardship Workshop for local community members to learn about land conservation in Lemhi County. Joselin Matkins from the Sagebrush Steppe Land Trust in Pocatello, Idaho lead the two-day workshop. Having both a classroom day and field day (on the McFarland Easement Property in Carmen), participants gained hands-on experience in learning about easement stewardship. We had a great time with everyone who participated, and look forward to seeing you in the future!
Summer Series
Kenney Creek Ranch - Kenney Creek
June 11, 2010
On June 11th, a group of Salmon community members and LRLT staff and board members gathered at the Kenney Creek Ranch. LRLT Executive Director, Kristin Troy, explained the complex dynamics of the Kenney Creek acquisition and importance of keeping Kenney Creek connected to the Lemhi River year-round to support Chinook salmon spawning and rearing. Kenney Creek provides critical habitat for anadromous fish when connected to the Lemhi River. Local historian, Fred Snook, also enlightened the group with the history of Kenney Creek and the original settlers, dating back to the 1890s.
Summer Series
Tonsmeire Ranch - Hayden Creek
August 27, 2010
On July 23rd, a group of Salmon community members and LRLT staff and board members gathered at the Adams Ranch Conservation Easement to observe LRLT's latest easement and discuss the positive impacts of the easement on Hayden Creek.
Female Chinook salmon on Hayden Creek, protecting her redd containing thousands of eggs.
Our most successful and well attended tours with approximately 30 LRLT supporters gathered at the LRLT office in Salmon to travel out to Hayden Creek to observe Chinook salmon at the end of their journey from the Pacific. Hayden Creek is a year-round connected tributary to the Lemhi River, making it one of the few tributaries that will support Chinook salmon spawning and rearing habitat on the Lemhi. The Idaho Fish and Game works with landowners on Hayden Creek to establish creek access in order to count Chinook salmon and their redds. Adult females will prepare a redd (or
nest) in a stream with suitable gravel composition, water depth and velocity. Hayden Creek allows for miles of exceptional spawning grounds, producing many redds within the stream. Each redd are estimated to have 2,000-10,000 eggs. According to BLM fisheries biologist Jude Trapani, “Only about 1% of these eggs will make it as juveniles to the ocean.” Redds are constructed by the female using her tail and head as digging devices to create the nest and constructing a dome-like structure about 5 feet in diameter to cover her eggs. After laying her eggs in a redd, the female will guard the redd for a few days to a month before dying.
Chinook salmon hatch 3-5 months after deposition. In Hayden Creek, deposition takes place anywhere from the last week in July to the last week in August, depending on seasonal water discharge. Juvenile Chinook may spend anywhere from 3 months to 2 years in freshwater rearing habitat before migrating to the Pacific Ocean to mature. Chinook salmon remain at sea for 1 to 6 years (usually 2 to 4 years), with the exception of a small proportion of yearling males (called jack salmon) which mature in freshwater or return after 2 or 3 months in salt water.
On LRLT’s visit this August, we observed two different females and their associated redds within the 2.5 mile section of Hayden Creek on the Tonsmeire Ranch. Jude Trapani attended the event as a special guest speaker to discuss the intriguing life of a Chinook salmon. It is a rare opportunity to observe Chinook salmon in their spawning habitat.
Jude Trapani, BLM Fisheries
Jude Trapani is a BLM fisheries biologist in Salmon, Idaho. Jude volunteered to lead the LRLT Summer Series tour on Hayden Creek. Jude shared his immense knowledge of fisheries in our region while leading LRLT members to spot Chinook salmon on the Tonsmeire Ranch. With the expert knowledge of a local fisheries biologist, LRLT’s last hike of the season was a huge success. Thank you Jude! LRLT appreciates your time and commitment to conservation in Lemhi County.
Lemhi Regional Land Trust partnered with the Bitterroot Land Trust (Hamilton, MT) for the First Annual Land Trust Day at Lost Trail Powder Mountain. The event was a great success, indtroducing fellow skiers to what Land Trusts do and how we operate. Information booths and raffle prizes were on display during the day.
2009
2010
1st Annual Land Trust Day
Lost Trail Powder Mountain - Lost Trail Pass, Idaho/Montana
March 19, 2011
We also encourage you to check out our upcoming events page to learn more about events LRLT will be hosting & encourage you to join us at them!
2011
