This month two years ago felt very different than today in the Wood River Valley. In August 2013, the Beaver Creek Fire started from a lightning strike. While fire in our landscape is often a positive thing ecologically, it can also cause a great deal of upheaval and negative effects as well.
The fire burned 114,900 acres—8,500 severely and 19,000 moderately-- from Deer Creek to Baker Creek until it was contained on Aug. 31 [2013]. Seventeen hundred firefighters attacked it with helicopters and Pulaskis as 8,000 valley residents were evacuated from their homes or told to be ready to evacuate. And when the fire had subsided, mudslides ripped apart roads in Deer Creek and Greenhorn, where 18 inches of water rushed down the road and filled homes with mud.
The Beaver Creek fire spurred a great deal of immediate community response, partnerships, and joint action. In the year following the fire, a broad coalition of conservation and recreation organizations, private landowners, business and economic interests, and government agencies combined forces to protect and restore lands and natural assets in the Wood River Valley. The Coalition is now working to apply the region’s best thinking across sectors to develop creative and effective solutions that will generate community and ecological resilience.
For example, the Coalition coordinated across agencies, organizations, and jurisdictions to document post-fire accomplishments and is currently working to determine the funding gaps needed to complete long-term rehabilitation and restoration work in the Wood River Valley.
The Coalition is also focused on supporting major restoration in Deer Creek, where almost 70% of the drainage was burned during the Beaver Creek Fire. After heavy rains triggered substantial debris flows that damaged roads, campgrounds, and trails, the area was closed to the public. Restoring Deer Creek will be a multi-year project.
To celebrate the restoration work completed so far and to build community support for the Coalition’s goals, in June 2015 the 5B Restoration Coalition held an evening picnic at the home of Dan and Martine Drackett to celebrate accomplishments and share future projects with the Wood River Valley community. Over 200 people gathered for the inspiring event.
The Coalition’s work is building momentum, and with strong community support, the Coalition hopes to continue developing community and ecological resilience in the Wood River Valley. The Coalition’s efforts and goals will be supported through the 5B Restoration Fund, which the National Forest Foundation – which also facilitates the Coalition – has offered to match up to $100,000.00. If you’d like to learn more about the 5B Restoration Coalition, or get involved, please visit https://sites.google.com/site/5brestorationcoalitionsite/.
