A portion of Idaho Fish and Game’s Boise River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) burned during the June 30th Table Rock Fire is now closed to all public entry. The fire burned more than 2,500 acres in total; almost 1,000 acres of WMA wildlife habitat burned in the fire.
The closed area is generally east of Table Rock, encompassing both the Council Springs and Warm Springs drainages. The closure area includes the Homestead Trail. The closure will give Fish and Game staff time to plan and implement soil and vegetation rehabilitation efforts without human disturbance to ensure the highest probability of success. “Even as rehabilitation efforts begin, the Department intends to re-open the Homestead Trail on the WMA for public use,” Fish and Game habitat manager Jerry Deal said. “Trail access will continue even during the area closure as long as its use does not impact adjacent wildlife habitat.”
Rehabilitation efforts will include some natural plant recovery, herbicide applications to control invasive weeds, as well as the planting of desirable grasses, forbs and shrubs. Disturbed soils will be stabilized using best management practices to prevent erosion and then revegetated.
- IDFG -
