Announcing IRU’s 2023 Sawtooth Stewards Volunteer Program
Do you love and cherish the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA)? Do you love to recreate along the rivers in the SNRA? Idaho Rivers United and the U.S. Forest Service want to preserve the rivers in the SNRA for all to enjoy by gathering volunteers for the Sawtooth River Stewards Program.
The program includes two different opportunities for you to become a Sawtooth River Steward:
Leave No Trace Stewards: The program is self-guided and centered around Leave No Trace ethics while you recreate in the area. Sawtooth River Stewards will be focus on picking up trash and be trained to conduct trail maintenance along river areas in the SNRA. The program is based on an honor system, and IRU asks its stewards to send us before and after photos of the areas that were cleaned up. In order to complete this program, stewards will need to record at least one area that has benefitted from their work. The purpose of this program is to learn how to protect the SNRA while you recreate, with the mindset to leave it better than you found it.
Sawtooth Salmon Stewards: This program is for those looking for a more advanced stewardship opportunity. Stewards will be trained on topics such as salmon life cycles, responsible fishing practices, how to identify redd (salmon egg nest) locations, as well as promoting IRU’s mission to protect and restore the rivers of Idaho. Stewards will have the opportunity to either run a trailhead river engagement station in the SNRA or be working with the USFS on a river restoration project. Both options will allow the stewards to apply what they learned in training to improve how everyone recreates in the Sawtooth’s.
The SNRA is home to some of the most beautiful scenery and critical habitat that Idaho has to offer. IRU and the USFS want to create a team of stewards who are passionate about preserving the rivers in the Sawtooths and want to learn how locals and recreators can protect this precious ecosystem. Join the IRU crew and become a Sawtooth River Steward this summer season! Please email our Volunteer Coordinator, Lindsey Paynter at lindsey@idahorivers.org for more information about the program.
FAQs:
How long does the program run?
The program starts immediately after our training in mid-June and runs through the last weekend in September.
Where are SNRA volunteer opportunities located?
Area selection is up to you, as long as it's in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA). We will identify areas in need of attention, but Stewards are encouraged to select areas based on their summer recreational activities. Stewards are required to clean-up at least one river area in the SNRA, but are encouraged to participate in as many stewardship opportunities as you want .
Sawtooth Salmon Steward opportunities are focused on targeted areas in the SNRA. Stewards will be required to participate in one river engagement station during the salmon spawning season from Aug 15-Sept 2 or be involved in a river restoration project designed by USFS and IRU staff.
Who can be a river steward?
Anyone can participate in our river stewardship program, but all river stewards 16 years of age or under must be accompanied by an adult. We highly encourage you to bring your friends and family along with you while participating in our programs. All participants must fill out a volunteer waiver before engaging in our program. Please email our volunteer coordinator at lindsey@idahorivers.org for more information.
River Steward Requirements:
Must complete an SNRA Stewards Application
All volunteers must complete the assigned training program
Must meet the physical requirements needed to hike to your chosen destination. Depending on the areas you select, some SNRA stewards will be hiking long distances or in high elevation environments.
Ideal candidates will have a good attitude, a sense of adventure, and be enthusiastic about the protection and restoration of Idaho’s rivers and fish!
When is the SNRA River Stewards training?
Our LNT stewards will be required to attend a virtual training in mid-June, an official date is coming soon. This training will be co-opted by USFS and IRU staff.
An additional, in-person training will be required for our Sawtooth Salmon Stewards. The training will occur in the Ketchum/Stanley area in late July or early August.
What equipment do you need to become a River Steward?
Reliable transportation to and from SNRA trailheads
Personal hiking and/or camping gear
Appropriate clothing for variable weather conditions
A camera - a cell phone camera will do!
First Aid kit
Materials provided by IRU and USFS:
A SNRA River Stewards t-shirt for program participants 16 years or older
Educational backpacks for Sawtooth Salmon Stewards
Maps
Name Tags
Trash Collection Kits