***\*\*\*VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY\*\*\****
Joint Event with Meridian Gems

Help restore wildlife habitat in the Valley Fire Burn Area on the Boise River Wildlife Management Area by volunteering with **Idaho Department of Fish & Game (IDF&G)** to collect sagebrush seeds.

Join us in our second weekday seed collection to restore wildlife habitat (i.e., mule deer) affected by the Valley Fire. Event is **open to the public** and guests are allowed even if not signed up. This event can be shared with other groups including Facebook Groups or other Meetup Groups or Friends/Family Groups but people should register using the [Google Form with IDF&G.](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeBqkLmUHWtaMONc5EqVeGWTMgExwVovpe0FTkXmZ3XBHKZYg/viewform)

Sagebrush sets seed in the late fall after flowering in September and October. Around here, the first time the seed is ripe is typically in mid-November. We aim to collect enough seed to aerial broadcast seed (via helicopter) on nearly all the approximately 4,500 acres owned by IDF&G that the Valley Fire burned.

Sagebrush broadcast seedings tend to work well if spread while the ground is black the first winter after the fire. They also anticipate growing out some of the seed into seedlings to be planted later by volunteers and contractors.

For this December 5th event, we plan to collect sagebrush seed by hand by stripping plant material from seed stalks and placing it into a five-gallon bucket (provided). ***If you have one, bring a clip, carabiner or short cord to attach the bucket to your belt or belt loop.***

The weather can vary from cool and sunny to cold, windy or wet in fall.
We plan to be onsite collecting from 10 am - 2 pm.

**What IDF&G provides**
IDF&G provides 5-gallon buckets and leather gloves.
Training is provided and crew leaders will be there to help. This project will involve some hiking, working on uneven terrain and slight bending over while collecting seed. Not much hiking involved... maybe 1 mile the whole day.

**What you should bring**
Come prepared! Please remember to dress for fall weather. You will need to bring layered clothing, rain gear or a jacket/coat, hiking boots or warm snow boots, a hat, and gloves. If the weather is cold, consider wearing your own thin-liner gloves under their leather gloves, or bring your own old ski gloves for the job. Sagebrush flower and chaff material is somewhat resinous and you won't want that on your favorite gloves! It could be rainy, snowy, breezy and cool OR it could be sunny and moderate. Volunteer activities are subject to change because of weather.

You will need to bring a **sack lunch and wate**r for the day. We expect the day to be around 4-5 hours long, including driving. Bring a day pack to hold your food and extra layers. The terrain should be gentle to moderate.

IMPORTANT!!! Signing up for this Meetup Event will not secure your spot.
Please **[sign up with Google Form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeBqkLmUHWtaMONc5EqVeGWTMgExwVovpe0FTkXmZ3XBHKZYg/viewform).** The field location is currently unknown, but will likely be somewhere 3-6 miles up Bogus Basin Road. AWD or 4WD vehicles are not needed.

If you are unable to assist with this weekday event, check in with IDF&G for other Valley and Paddock Fire seed collections December projects.

Michael Young
Regional Wildlife Habitat Biologist
Idaho Department of Fish and Game
15950 N. Gate Blvd
Nampa, ID 83687
208-854-8985
[michael.young@idfg.idaho.gov](http://mailto:michael.young@idfg.idaho.gov/)

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Sagebrush Seed Collection to Restore the Valley Fire Area

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Sagebrush Seed Collection to Restore the Valley Fire Area

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