Collaboration in Action: Shaping the Lacy Lemoosh Restoration Project

The Shoshone Benewah Forest Collaborative (SBFC) demonstrates how diverse interests can come together to improve Idaho’s public lands through collaboration and shared problem-solving. Comprised of representatives from conservation organizations, the timber industry, motorized and non-motorized recreation groups, county government, and citizens at large, the SBFC worked closely with the St. Joe Ranger District and Idaho Panhandle National Forests to help shape the Lacy Lemoosh Integrated Restoration Project south of Emida.

The approximately 16,100-acre project was designed to address a broad range of resource concerns, including forest health, hazardous fuels, wildlife habitat, watershed restoration, recreation, and local economic sustainability. Through field tours, regular meetings, and extensive dialogue with Forest Service staff, the collaborative provided detailed input during both the Proposed Action and Environmental Assessment phases of project development.

The SBFC supported active forest management to improve resilience to wildfire, insects, and disease while emphasizing the importance of protecting water quality, maintaining wildlife habitat and security, and sustaining recreation opportunities. Recommendations from the collaborative included reducing unnecessary road construction, restoring fish passage, limiting sediment delivery to streams, maintaining watershed protections, and ensuring closed roads were effectively secured to prevent unauthorized motorized use.

Many of the collaborative’s recommendations were ultimately incorporated into the final project design. The Forest Service reduced new road construction, adjusted logging units to remain below watershed impact thresholds, relocated or decommissioned roads and trails contributing to sedimentation, and developed replacement OHV opportunities to offset recreation impacts.

Today, implementation of the Lacy Lemoosh Integrated Restoration Project is underway. The project stands as a successful example of collaborative forest restoration, demonstrating that stakeholders with differing perspectives can work together to improve forest health, protect wildlife and watersheds, sustain recreation opportunities, and support local communities and forest-based economies.

Photos by Woods Wheatcroft and Brittney Esser.