Meeting To Kick Off Wetlands Protection Effort

An effort to protect North Idaho wetlands will kick off Feb. 15.

Wetlands and the birds will be discussed at a 7 p.m. meeting that day, according to Lew Brown of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. It will be at BLM offices, 1808 N. Third St.

A committee will be formed to write a wetland conservation strategy for Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai and parts of Shoshone counties. The strategy will address such issues as potential purchase of wetlands, acquisition of water rights for key areas, and enhancement of waterfowl habitat.

“Our region has some major wetlands such as the Clark Fork River marshes, Priest Lake area and chain lakes in the Lower Coeur d’Alene River basin,” Brown said. “We also have numerous small wetlands that are very important to waterfowl and wetland-dwelling species.

The strategy will be part of a public-private program aimed at restoring waterfowl populations throughout North America.