Panther Creek II

CONSERVED - February 2024

We are pleased to announce the Panther Creek Project is complete! It was conveyed to the Salmon-Challis National Forest on February 20, 2024. They will ensure this critical stretch of Panther Creek will remain conserved forever.

The Tide SW Foundation is proud to partner again with Western Rivers Conservancy. Their work on Idaho’s Panther Creek has been transformative. We were presented with a proposal to assist in the Panther Creek II project to help further those efforts.

The Panther Creek project started in October 2020 when Western Rivers Conservancy acquired a 110-acre inholding within the Salmon-Challis National Forest. This property spans nearly a mile of Panther Creek. An intensive restoration effort, which began nearly 20 years ago, has transformed the creek back into a relatively healthy salmon stream once again. The Panther Creek Phase I acquisition in this high-priority area furthered the habitat restoration and fish recovery efforts. In the spring of 2021, WRC successfully secured funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to convey the parcel to the Salmon-Challis National Forest for permanent protection.

Since then, WRC has been diligently negotiating the purchase of the adjacent 448 acres to expand this effort. In January 2022, the Tide SW Foundation provided the funding for Western Rivers Conservancy to purchase this property, Panther Creek Phase II. This property includes three-quarters of a mile of Panther Creek frontage.

The long-term goal is the Panther Creek Phase II property will be conveyed to the U.S. Forest Service.

  • Specifics

    Panther Creek is located in Lemhi County, Idaho. This 67-mile creek is a major tributary to Idaho’s Salmon River. A legacy of copper mining had left Panther Creek devoid of aquatic life for decades.

    The Panther Creek Phase II property is within the Salmon-Challis National Forest. Conserving these 448 acres will protect three-quarters of a mile of creek frontage.

    Map

  • Public Access

    The Panther Creek area sees heavy recreational use from hikers, campers, hunters and anglers. The length of Panther Creek is included as a part of the Idaho Birding Trail and over 40 miles of the creek itself are accessible by Panther Creek Road. Acquisition of the Phase II property would improve recreation access by acquiring a segment of the Panther Creek Road that crosses the parcel, providing new fishing and recreational access.

  • Fish and Wildlife

    WRC’s efforts to protect the Panther Creek property will conserve a small but important stretch of the river that provides habitat for a variety of wildlife.

    Threatened steelhead, bull trout and Chinook salmon inhabit Panther Creek. Two separate wolf packs, Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer and mountain lion inhabit the area. As do various songbirds such as yellow chat, black headed grosbeak and a variety of warblers.

    The area is also important for big game management as it provides a linkage to essential calving habitat for elk, mule deer, and moose.

  • Long Term Goals

    The Panther Creek Phase II property is an inholding within the Salmon-Challis National Forest. With funding provided by the Tide SW Foundation to Western Rivers Conservancy in January 2022, they were able to purchase the property. WRC will hold and manage the property until an appropriation from the Land and Water Conservation Fund is secured. WRC will then convey the property to the U.S. Forest Service to put the land in permanent conservation.

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Photos and text courtesy of WRC