Wood river valley collaborative forest enhancement project

Launched in 2021, the Wood River Valley (WRV) Collaborative Forest Enhancement (CFE) Project has worked together with a collaborative of stakeholders who have advanced the project in two distinct phases: Planning and Implementation. The planning phase (2021 - 2023) developed the planning tools and framework to target resources in areas of greatest need to improve forest health and resilience across the valley; then the implementation phase (2023-2025) began investing funding in high priority projects within 3 key categories: riparian restoration, tree planting and community forest management. As the project concludes in 2025, the stakeholders are working together to build key local partnerships so that this work can continue into 2026 and beyond.

Planning Phase (2021 - 2023)

The planning tools were developed using the data developed through a collaborative GIS Assessment produced in December 2021.

• The following Community Forest Management Plans were published in Summer 2023 and help prioritize future investments in the region’s infrastructure to improve: air quality, water quality, climate resilience, quality of life and economic development opportunities.

  • All Wood River Valley

  • City of Sun Valley

  • City of Ketchum

  • South Valley (Cities of Hailey and Bellevue)

Implementation Phase (2023 - 2025)

2024 On-The-Ground Projects

• Valley-Wide Tree Inventory Pilot - In September 2024, Idaho Department of Lands, Ecosystem Sciences Foundation and The Keystone Concept trained community volunteers to use the Idaho Tree Plotter application to inventory public trees, starting in the City of Hailey. Throughout the Fall of 2024, these volunteers will continue to inventory trees across the City “until the snow flies”. We are hopeful to complete an inventory in Hailey in 2024 and then move north to Ketchum & Sun Valley and south to Bellevue in the Spring of 2025.

• Forest Health Treatments in City of Sun Valley - The City of Sun Valley staff and contractors identified several areas of poor forest health in and around the city and local homeowners association in need of evaluation and treatment. These areas were treated in Fall of 2024, helping to improve forest health and develop an effective process for future forest health evaluations and treatments.

• City of Ketchum Main Street enhancements - The City of Ketchum, along their mainstreet, completed a major redesign project that includes suspended pavement systems, new street trees, green stormwater infrastructure and enhancements to the pedestrian experience through the core of downtown. The WRV CFE project provided input on design and tree selection and assisted with funding support for the large street trees that now line this busy residential district of the city.

• Blaine County Riparian Restoration projects - Blaine County, through partnerships with several local non-profit organizations, including Project Big Wood and Wood River Land Trust, provided funding support for several high priority riparian restoration projects along the Big Wood River.