The Nature Conservancy recently recognized the people responsible for making Silver Creek Preserve possible for the past 30 years, at an event July 27 held on Loving Creek Ranch near the preserve.
The event was held to share stories and thank preserve founders, donors, landowners and others who have made the conservation project a model for stream conservation around the world.
About 100 people attended the event, hosted by the owners of Loving Creek Ranch: John and Dee Fery, Ward and Priscilla Woods, and Mark and Betsy Gates. Fery, who lead Boise Cascade in financial support of the preserve at its beginning in 1976, reflected on the successes at the preserve. It began when the Sun Valley Resort put the ranch up for sale, and Jack Hemingway and others urged The Nature Conservancy to purchase it.
Diane Josephy Peavey read a special essay she wrote for the occasion, which collected the stories of Silver Creek landowners Bud Purdy, John and Elizabeth Stevenson and others.
The Nature Conservancy also announced the launch of an endowment to fund conservation work at Silver Creek. Future plans at the preserve include:
A continued public outreach program with birding walks, watercolor classes, wine tastings, volunteer opportunities, and more.
Expanded monitoring of the creek and restoration of habitat. Already many miles of the creek system have been restored with plantings and stream bank reconstruction. More exciting projects are planned to restore the stream system while continuing to honor and protect existing irrigation and agricultural practices.
Working with the community to create market-based, collaborative solutions to development that impacts Silver Creek’s watershed.
Web access that will allow anyone—whether in Idaho or Argentina—to check on the latest, up-to-the-minute water flows and conditions at Silver Creek.
“We have accomplished a lot in 30 years with the help of so many community members,” says Laura Hubbard, state director for The Nature Conservancy of Idaho. “We celebrated an inspiring evening with many of the people who made this preserve possible. And we look forward to achieving even more in the next 30 years.”
The summer’s anniversary celebration continues with watercolor classes and nature walks at the preserve in August.
A publication celebrating 30 years of Silver Creek and anniversary poster are available free at the Silver Creek visitor’s center and The Nature Conservancy’s office in Hailey.
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