Wetland Enhancements! Canoe in the making! July 23, 2015

Laura Laumatia: Lake Management Coordinator

During our short stay in Couer d' Alene, we were asked to listen to goals towards the wetland enhancement project. Laura was kind enough to show us what she hopes to see in the future. Since the project began, Laura has seen many great changes that have helped improve the habitat.

A main goal is to create wetland habitats and hydraulic connections with the valley bottom. Wetland enhancements should reduce erosion along 5600 linear feet of streambank and should provide measurable increases in abundance and distribution on the Westslope cutthroat trout. The project should also enhance the property for the landowner by combining natural processes with an agricultural setting.

Of course, like any project, there are principles to obeyed by. Such as, prescriptions must be consistent with an ongoing natural process. Also, prescriptions should accelerate natural process time frames that lead to recovery or enhancement.

Hearing about wetland enhancements and what Laura expects to come out of it, was a relief. She truly cares about the habitats that live amongst the West Fork Lake Stream. Laura isn't alone, and her team is doing a great job.

After listening to Laura's plans for the project, we were given an opportunity to help build a canoe out of a tree that was over 700 years. We came together as a team not only build a canoe, but friendships as well. Each taking our turn, and paying very close attention to how we all handle a tool differently once it gets in our hands. We all shared a very special moment. Some more aggressively than others but all working towards building that same canoe.

It truly is moments like these that make you appreciate the company that you're with. Each of us were being recognized for being a part of something larger than large. Given permission to take with us wood shavings and cedar from this 700 year old tree, that was being transformed into something wonderful, was enough to make that day more amazing than it already was. Although our names were not actually carved into the canoe, they were carved in spirit, and the experience that came along with it is what really matters.