Caribou-Targhee National Forest accepting project proposals for maintenance, habitat improvements

Forest’s resource advisory committee will make recommendations on allocating funds to public land projects

By: Christina Lords - December 14, 2021 3:06 pm

Project coordinators haul supplies to a work site in the Caribou Targhee National Forest. The forest’s advisory committee is seeking applications for maintenance and other improvement projects from the public. (Courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service)

The Caribou-Targhee National Forest is seeking proposals for work projects to be considered by the Eastern Idaho Resource Advisory Committee, according to a press release from forest officials.

Last year, the committee coordinated 70 projects that cost about $558,000. This year, up to $750,000 will be available to fund projects in southeast Idaho.

“Projects must have broad-based support and a nexus with public land management activities, including but not limited to road, trail and infrastructure maintenance, soil and rangeland improvements, watershed restoration and maintenance, fish and wildlife habitat improvement, noxious and invasive weeds and recreation enhancements,” the release said. “Prior project approvals included noxious weed treatments, trail reroutes and road improvements.”

All of the resource advisory committee project proposals must be closely coordinated early in the process with an appropriate ranger district representative and other key partners during the application process, according to the release.

The application period runs from Dec. 15-Jan. 31. The committee will tentatively review project applications in mid-March and provide its recommendation to the forest’s supervisor.

“Our RAC provides an avenue for the forest to seek local input on where to expend funds that will best benefit their public lands,” said Bill Davis, the committee’s coordinator, in the release.

The committee is chartered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the Federal Advisory Committee Act and consists of 15 members representing a wide array of interests. The projects will include work in 10 counties in southeast Idaho.

A copy of the application and related instructions are available online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/ctnf/workingtogether/advisorycommittees. Links to other information about the Secure Rural Schools legislation and local resource advisory committee are available on the same website. Applications must be submitted no later than Jan. 31 to Davis via email at [email protected].

Or mail to

Att: Bill Davis

East Idaho RAC c/o Caribou-Targhee National Forest

Dubois Ranger District

P.O. Box 46

Dubois, ID 83423

For information, go to the forest’s website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/ctnf or contact Davis at 208-375-5422 or via email at [email protected].

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Christina Lords

Christina Lords is the editor-in-chief of the Idaho Capital Sun and has been a professional journalist covering local and state government since graduating from the University of Idaho in 2009. A Pocatello native, Lords is a fifth-generation Idahoan who served as a reporter at the Moscow-Pullman Daily News and the Post Register in Idaho Falls and served as assistant editor for the Idaho Press in Nampa. She also led the Idaho Statesman in Boise for two years before turning to nonprofit journalism.