Last week in response to Sen. Mike Lee’s relentless attempts to sell off our public lands, the Idaho chapter rapidly organized three pint nights across the state in concert with “Flood the Lines Day”. These events activated over 200 public land owners between Boise, Lewiston, and Moscow, ID to call, email, and snail mail their elected officials while gathering at local watering holes Payette Brewing, Groundwork Brewing, Hunga Dunga Brewing. These efforts complimented 1944 Idaho based actions ...

On May 9-10, BHA volunteers teamed up with the BLM biology department of the Upper Snake Field office to improve fencing around riparian areas in Stinking Springs Canyon Idaho. The removal of dilapidated fencing and rebuild to wildlife friendly fence is intended to improve habitat and water quality in the area. Modified fence will serve to protect the spring head and riparian zones leading into the Snake River.    The difference in water clarity was evident overnight -when volunteers ...

A veteran’s story and thoughts on protecting the Kootenai River     I am 36 years old. At this point in, what I like to think of as being, my young life, I have served my country and community in both the United States Marine Corps and as a Sheriff’s Deputy for the past 18 years. Public service, and all the emotional trauma and baggage that come with responding to society's darkest and ugliest scenes, have consumed my entire adult life. While I wouldn’t trade my experiences, many of which ...

This is your March 4th edition of BHA's Western Policy Spotter - a high-level scan of state policy and legislation impacting wild public lands, waters and wildlife across the West. Note - this is not a comprehensive list of legislation or issues that chapters are working on, but rather a spotlight in the moment of what is moving. There are many more bills and issues BHA's chapters are grappling with, and those will be added to the Spotter when they are strategic to surface. Jump to ...

  Agency Layoffs Jeopardize Our Public Lands  Late last week, on orders from President Trump’s Office of Personnel Management, our federal land and wildlife management agencies laid off thousands of employees in their one- or two-year probationary period. From the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management to the National Park Service and US Forest Service (USFS), thousands of dedicated public servants suddenly found themselves without a job. For the USFS alone, that ...