Habitat Restoration Vertically Integrated Project at the Intermountain Bird Observatory's Diane Moore Nature Center

The Boise River is a regulated system containing multiple dams for irrigation and flood control in the Treasure Valley. Many river functions are absent or highly modified compared to pre-settlement conditions, and therefore the river lacks complexity that is important to native fish and wildlife. The VIP project at the Diane Moore Nature Center focuses on ecosystem restoration that includes reconnecting a historic side channel to benefit wildlife including fish, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, and invertebrates. The goals of the nature center include native habitat restoration, limited public access, and community education/outreach. During Spring 2025, VIP students placed large woody debris in the side channel to provide fish habitat, taken cuttings of local tree populations for planting, and distributed seeds to re-establish native vegetation to stabilize banks. We have also addressed the impacts of pedestrian foot traffic by fencing areas and reinforcing eroding slopes.