In an Inland Northwest community known for its mining history but now recognized for its robust outdoor recreational opportunities, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation helped to both conserve habitat and expand public access.
It happened in Idaho’s Silver Valley between the small towns of Pinehurst and Kellogg about 35 miles east of Coeur d’Alene.
RMEF worked with conservation-minded landowners to acquire 90 acres of wildlife and riparian habitat and then convey it to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
The property includes a stretch of the South Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River with the popular 73-mile Trail of the Coeur d’Alene’s cycling trail running along its southern boundary. Its eastern boundary connects with another 300 acres of state and federally managed land.
Once across the river, eight acres of wetlands and 32 acres of floodplain habitat give way to 50 acres of forestland featuring cottonwood, aspen, ponderosa pine and Douglas fir that supply habitat for elk, moose, whitetail deer, migratory birds and other wildlife.
When RMEF completed the project, Idaho Fish and Game announced future intentions to construct a fishing access site on the premises – good news for anglers in search of brook, rainbow and cutthroat trout.
Creating and improving public access is a long-time focus of RMEF’s mission.
Since 1984 – RMEF has opened or improved public access to nearly 1.6 million acres.
To view the sites and boundaries of RMEF land conservation and access projects, turn on the RMEF layer and use the code RMEF when you sign up for your onX subscription to receive a 20% discount.