What Do We Do, Exactly?
Essentially, we restore streams, wetlands and native prairie using many different techniques including BDA construction, revegetation, erosion control, soil and water monitoring, and much more.
The work we do improves both soil and water quality. Restoration of wetlands allows more carbon sequestration which could be an effective approach to mitigate greenhouse gas accumulation in the atmosphere. Read more here.
As soil and water quality improves, habitat for fish, threatened and endangered plant and animal species, threatened ecosystems, and all local wildlife improves.
As habitat improves, these effects carry over to our own agricultural lands, range and pasture lands, and forest lands. This directly influences the quality of land we use for our local economy and our public health.
Caring for the land carries over to affect all the life supported by the land, including the local people and our economy. Everything is connected. Conservation is about getting to the root of the problems. This is what Latah Soil and Water Conservation District is all about. Addressing the root problems that affect the health of our soil, water, air, native plants, wildlife, ecosystems, and ultimately ourselves.
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Latah SWCD works through voluntary, incentive-based programs to assist private landowners and agricultural operators with the conservation of land, water, plant, and wildlife resources throughout Latah County. Latah County contains approximately 697,000 acres, of which 38% is devoted to agriculture and 61% is range and forest lands. Approximately 77% of the county is in private ownership.
In recent years, the work of the Latah SWCD has focused on soil heath, erosion control on forest and agricultural lands, wildlife enhancement, Palouse Prairie restoration, environmental education, and watershed planning.
Main Areas of Focus
In cooperation with landowners, Idaho Fish & Game, US Fish & Wildlife Service, and NRCS we are working to improve existing Palouse Prairie remnants, convert acres back to the prairie ecotype, improve pollinator habitat and re-establish rare and endangered plants.
The Latah SWCD is positioned to lead and provide opportunities for integrating soil health principles and practices into Palouse dryland cropping systems. Building local expertise and conservation partnerships in soil health will also strengthen regional and national efforts to improve soil health management at the farm scale.
Through the restoration and enhancement of wet meadows
throughout the Potlatch watershed we are improving habitat for
endangered wild Steelhead as well as improving the resiliance of our
resources in the face of climate change.