Volunteers plant 100,000 shrubs to repair Glendale Fire damage

RINKER ROCK CREEK RANCH, Idaho, More than a dozen volunteers gathered on Thursday morning to plant shrubs on the hillside behind the Rinker Rock Creek Ranch. The group worked to restore wintering range for wildlife in Southern Idaho by filling in burn scars left by the 2024 Glendale Fire.

John Guthrie, the regional habitat manager for Idaho Fish and Game, stated that the fire destroyed much of the local sagebrush and bitterbrush. The current project involves planting approximately 2,500 individual shrubs in this specific area to restart the ecosystem. Guthrie noted that these plants are essential for local fauna, explaining that mule deer can survive on a diet of nearly 100% sagebrush and bitterbrush. He added that Greater Sage Grouse, which nest in these areas, rely almost exclusively on the vegetation for most of the year.

This site is part of a larger regional effort that has been underway for the last three weeks. Guthrie reported that crews have planted nearly 100,000 plant plugs across the region during that period. He attributed this capacity to the labor provided by volunteers. One such volunteer is Jay Dorr, a Hailey resident and retired forest service employee. Dorr said his career was spent caring for public lands, which motivated him to return to the work. He helped the crew last year and returned this season to assist with the planting.

Dorr described the planting technique used by the team. Volunteers dig holes deep enough to accommodate the plant roots without bending them. The goal is to pack the soil tightly around the root system to eliminate airspace, ensuring the plant establishes properly. After securing one plant, the volunteer moves to the next spot a short distance away to begin the process again.

Other participants have personal ties to the land. Susan Heaphy, a volunteer at the site, described the area as her backyard. She said she feels a responsibility to protect the public lands in Idaho. Heaphy and the other volunteers worked through the morning under the rising sun, filling their bags with plants and moving up the slope.

Idaho Fish and Game officials said that community involvement is central to the restoration plan. The agency encourages residents who want to join similar habitat restoration projects to contact their local Fish and Game office. The next steps for the Rinker Rock Creek Ranch site involve monitoring the newly planted shrubs to ensure they take root in the soil. The 2024 Glendale Fire had removed the native vegetation from the hillsides, leaving the area vulnerable and reducing food sources for deer and grouse. The 100,000 plugs planted over the past three weeks aim to replace that lost cover.

The planting effort continues across the Magic Valley. Guthrie emphasized that the two species being planted are critical for a healthy Idaho ecosystem. The volunteers completed their shift on Thursday, leaving the 2,500 new plants in the ground to grow. The agency will continue to coordinate volunteer days at other burn sites in the region.