Programs

  • Community Forest Watch Program

    COMMUNITY FOREST WATCH YVFC'S FOREST WATCH PROGRAM ADVOCATES FOR RESPONSIBLE LAND MANAGEMENT THAT SUPPORTS WILDLIFE, OLD-GROWTH FORESTS, AND HEALTHY WATERSHEDS, IN THE KOOTENAI WHILE ALSO WORKING TO RECOVER THE YAAK'S IMPERILED POPULATION OF ENDANGERED GRIZZLY BEARS. IN 2024 WE PROTECTED THE YAAK'S PUBLIC LANDS, ENGAGING WITH THE KOOTENAI NATIONAL FOREST AT EVERY LEVEL TO PROTECT VITAL HABITAT FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES AND PREVENT LOGGING OF THE YAAK'S CARBON- STORING OLD-GROWTH FORESTS. WE CONTINUED OUR YEARS-LONG DEFENSE OF BLACK RAM, KNOTTY PINE, NORMAN-MCCEDAR, AND TROJAN DEFENSE, AND ENGAGED IN SEVERAL NEW PROJECTS PROPOSED BY THE KNF, INCLUDING THE KING KONG WILDLIFE IMPROVEMENT AND FOREST HEALTH PROJECT, THE RUBY SNAX FOREST HEALTH PROJECT, AND THE WHY NOT STARDUST MINERALS EXPLORATION PROJECT, WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR HARMFUL DREDGE MINING OPERATIONS ON THE YAAK RIVER. WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR ILLEGAL MOTOR VEHICLE USE IN THE KNF, WHERE DESPITE AGENCY CLAIMS THAT DESIGNATED GRIZZLY CORE HABITAT IS SUFFICIENTLY PROTECTED, YVFC CONTINUES TO DOCUMENT ILLICIT USE. DURING THE 2024 FIELD SEASON, WE MONITORED 56 ROAD BARRIERS, DOCUMENTING ILLEGAL ACCESS INTO VITAL GRIZZLY BEAR HABITAT. WHILE WE CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH KNF AT THE PROJECT LEVEL, WE BEGAN WORK ON AN ECOREGIONAL CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT (ECA) FOR THE NORTHERN ROCKIES ECOREGION WITH DRS DELLASALA AND AFRICANIS OF WILDHERITAGE, TO ESTABLISH A SCIENTIFIC BASELINE DOCUMENTING QUALITIES THAT MAKE THE YAAK A CONSERVATION PRIORITY AND SERVE AS MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES FOR THE PROPOSED BLACK RAM CLIMATE REFUGE. IN LATE SEPTEMBER WE BROUGHT TOGETHER LOCAL CITIZENS, SCIENTISTS, AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO REVIEW THE PRELIMINARY FINDINGS AT A WORKSHOP IN MISSOULA. WITH THE HELP OF THESE PARTNERS, WE ARE DEVELOPING A CONSERVATION FRAMEWORK TO PRODUCE A SCIENCE-BASED PUBLICATION AND ONLINE CONSERVATION ATLAS THAT WILL BE USED TO EXPAND FOREST PROTECTIONS WHILE RECOMMENDING EFFECTIVE WAYS TO REDUCE RISKS TO COMMUNITIES FROM WILDFIRES AND CLIMATE CHANGE.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
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    $348.1K

  • Headwaters Restoration Program

    HEADWATERS RESTORATION PARTNERSHIP THE HEADWATERS RESTORATION PROGRAM PROTECTS AND PRESERVES HABITAT AND RIPARIAN CORRIDORS FOR SENSITIVE AND THREATENED NATIVE-FISH SPECIES THROUGH WATERSHED MONITORING AND ON-THE-GROUND RESTORATION PROJECTS. DURING THE 2024 FIELD SEASON, YVFC'S FIELD CREW CONDUCTED WATERSHED MONITORING AT OVER 60 SITES THROUGHOUT THE KOOTENAI RIVER WATERSHED, CONTINUING LONG-TERM WATER TEMPERATURE MONITORING, INVASIVE SPECIES MONITORING, AND ANALYZING SAMPLES FOR WATER QUALITY METRICS (NITROGEN, PHOSPHATE, SUSPENDED SOLIDS). WE ALSO EXPANDED TESTING FOR SELENIUM IN RESPONSE TO GROWING CONCERN FROM THE COMMUNITY AND TRIBAL PARTNERS ABOUT ITS IMPACT ON FISH REPRODUCTION. IN ADDITION TO WATERSHED MONITORING, THE HEADWATERS PROGRAM PARTNERED WITH A PRIVATE LANDOWNER TO RESTORE OVER 200 FEET OF ERODED RIVERBANK TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AT THE HEADWATERS OF THE YAAK RIVER AND RESTORE HIGH-QUALITY RIPARIAN HABITAT.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
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  • Conservation Education Program

    CONSERVATION EDUCATION YVFC BUILDS LOCAL GRASSROOTS SUPPORT FOR RESPONSIBLE FOREST MANAGEMENT THAT PRIORITIZES CARBON SEQUESTRATION AND HABITAT CONNECTIVITY, EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT ISSUES RELATED TO WATERSHED HEALTH, AND FOSTERING A CULTURE OF COEXISTENCE WITH WILDLIFE. IN 2024 WE EXPANDED EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS, SPECIFICALLY WITH AN EMPHASIS ON SMALL RURAL SCHOOLS WHERE THE SMALL CLASS SIZES AND REMOTE LOCATIONS LIMIT ACCESS TO EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND WORKED WITH LOCAL LANDOWNERS TO PROTECT IMPORTANT WILDLIFE MIGRATION CORRIDORS IN THE YAAK. THROUGH OUR ROBUST BEAR AWARE PROGRAM, WE PROVIDED BEAR-SAFE EDUCATION THROUGHOUT LINCOLN COUNTY AND SUPPORTED YAAK VALLEY RESIDENTS WITH BEAR-SAFE GARBAGE CANS, ELECTRIC FENCING, AND BEAR SPRAY.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
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