Fish and Game enhancing habitat at C.J. Strike Wildlife Management Area

By Roger Phillips, Idaho Fish and Game public information specialist Portions of the C.J. Strike Wildlife Management Area will look different this spring after Idaho Fish and Game crews remove overgrown Russian olive trees from several segments of the WMA to improve wildlife habitat and hunter access. "When Russian olives are left unchecked, they dominate and out-compete native tree species, such as cottonwood, in wetlands and other areas," C.J. Strike WMA manager Josh White said. "Our goal is to manage for healthy shrub/grassland communities interspersed by wetland habitats that provide quality nesting and brood-rearing habitat for upland game birds and waterfowl," he said. "This project will benefit wildlife species important to Idaho sportsmen and wildlife viewers. By improving the habitat quality of our managed properties, we hope to see more upland game birds, waterfowl and wading birds using these areas in subsequent years." The habitat-improvement project will occur on about 15 acres of the Hot Springs Ranch segment, 42 acres of the Bruneau Flood Plain segment. Another 25 acres will be treated on the Bruneau Duck Ponds segment after required environment analysis is completed and approved. Tree removal will begin in mid-February, and cut trees will be piled and allowed to dry for one or two years before they will be burned. Fish and Game crews will do follow-up work in the coming years to ensure Russian olives do not re-establish in the treated areas. The C.J. Strike WMA near the town of Bruneau encompasses 11,000 acres bordering the 7,500 surface acres of C.J. Strike Reservoir, Snake River and Bruneau River. It provides habitat for upland birds, waterfowl and a variety of mammals. The WMA also provides access for hunters and anglers to C.J. Strike Reservoir and the Bruneau River, as well several ponds in the area. Access to most areas of the WMA will be unaffected by this project. In areas where work is being done, closures from Feb. 1 through July 31 are already in place. Access by foot travel is available along the Bruneau River for fishing, but Fish and Game officials ask users to be cautious of work being done in the immediate area. For more information about the project, contact Joshua White, CJ Strike Manager at (208) 845-2324 or joshua.white@idfg.idaho.gov.