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Enhancing & Maintaining Mule Deer Winter Range & Public Access in Pocatello

The Century Heights Preserve, a 266-acre property located within Pocatello city limits, was initially donated to SSLT in December 2018, with an additional 100-acres donated in 2023. This property, which provides important winter range for mule deer and other wildlife, was once slated for development. Instead, SSLT has prioritized its conservation and ecological restoration, as well as public access which includes non-motorized recreational use. Grant funds were utilized to address the public education and land management needs of meeting these goals. Additionally, in 2024, a fire affected roughly 32 acres of rangeland on the property, which led to the development of a comprehensive post-fire restoration plan to stabilize the soil, enhance native vegetation, and protect wildlife habitat.

The funding received from IFWF was critical to implementing public outreach and communications, restoration plans, and long-term property management, including: 

  • Creation of public access, a parking area and an educational kiosk to aid in community access, education, and support for the protected area. 
  • The hand planting of native shrubs, such as sagebrush, bitterbrush, choke cherry, service berry, and other native species to quickly establish forage and cover for wildlife. 
  • The mechanical stabilization efforts to address erosion caused by fire and fire suppression activities. 
  • Support drill and broadcast seeding processes, which were designed to restore native plant communities. 
Two wooden educational kiosks at a trailhead providing information on wildlife habitat and public access at the Boise River WMA.
A group of people hiking along a trail through a sagebrush landscape toward rolling hills under a cloudy sky.
An aerial view of a hillside restoration area showing targeted plantings and trail networks designed to protect and rehabilitate the landscape.

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