New Intermountain Joint West Venture Partner Biologist Positions

The IWJV, Pheasants Forever, and Idaho NRCS have partnered to establish two new biologist positions based in NRCS offices in Preston (Pratt Griffeth - jgriffeth@pheasantsforever.org) and Coeur d'Alene (Kenna Frantzich- kfrantzich@pheasantsforever.org). These positions will be working regionally across southeast Idaho (Preston position) and northern Idaho (Coeur d'Alene). The primary role of these positions is to support NRCS in the implementation of NRCS Farm Bill Conservation Program delivery in key landscapes including agricultural irrigation infrastructure improvements that sustain wet meadow habitats, wetland restoration and management, mesic habitat restoration, stream and riparian habitat improvements, and other actions that enhance fish and wildlife habitat on working lands. These positions will also be supporting NRCS State Office easement division staff to enhance management of existing WRP and WRE parcels through science-based wetland management approaches that improve the habitat value on enrolled lands. In addition, these new positions can support connections between landowners and land trusts to help advance protection of working lands in Idaho. Both positions have started recently and we will be working to connect them with local partners in the coming months.