On October 15th, 2011, the BRWF, and more than one dozen fantastic volunteers, completed a revegetation project on the East Fork of the Bitterroot River near Spring Gulch. 

We planted 89 container plants and installed brush blankets (to keep other weeds and grasses from competing with the new plants) and browse protectors (to keep hungry animals from munching on the new-found greenery).  The rain took care of the watering this time, but we'll be back in the spring to water the lot with a well-organized bucket brigade!

Why Revegetate?  Because thermal loading and sedimentation are the main impairments to the East Fork of the Bitterroot River, a vegetated riparian buffer would likely contribute to a reduction in stream temperature through shading and function as a sediment trap, thereby reducing the amount of sediment and non-point source pollution delivered to the stream from the highway.  The project will increase the size and quality of the riparian buffer in an area where existing vegetation mainly consist of herbaceous species.