ZOOM KNPS Meetings
September 2020 Meeting
Mountain Goats: Living on the Edge ---YouTube Presentation
If you missed the live Zoom program on September 26, it is now available on the KNPS YouTube Channel. If you already saw it, please recommend it to a friend.
The guest speakers are Laura Wolf from Idaho Department of Fish and Game and Britta Mireley from Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness.
Laura Wolf has been a wildlife biologist with IDFG for 13 years. Based out of Coeur d’Alene, she works primarily with big game species such as deer, elk, moose, wolves, and mountain lions, but is most excited when she gets to work with mountain goats. She recently led the statewide Mountain Goat Management Plan for Idaho.
Britta Mireley is the Deputy Executive Director for FSPW. She talks about the FSPW’s Goat Ambassador Program – its successes and challenges in 2020 and looking ahead to 2021.
To access the YouTube recording, go to: https://youtu.be/6-qJB4NhQDk
October 2020 Meeting
Ecology and Silviculture of Subalpine Fir (Abies lasiocarpa)
The guest speaker is Chris Schnepf, Professor and North Idaho Extension Educator in Forestry for the University of Idaho.
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November 2020 Meeting
A Vascular Flora of the Selkirk Mountains of Bonner and Boundary Counties, Idaho
If you missed the live Zoom program on November 28th, it is now available on the Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society YouTube Channel. If you already saw it, please recommend it to a friend.
The guest speaker is Harpo Faust, M.S. student at the Stillinger Herbarium, University of Idaho, Moscow.
Harpo Faust received her undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Cruz and worked as a seasonal botanist before starting her graduate degree at UI. Harpo is the recipient of this year’s Lois Wythe grant awarded by KNPS. Harpo is passionate about rare plants and hopes to continue to work as a botanist after she finishes her degree this winter.
Program description: The Selkirk range is ecologically distinct, hosting an assemblage of boreal, coastal, Rocky Mountain and Columbia Basin floristic influences, with a rich geologic and glacial history that make for a diverse botanical flora. Before 2019, no comprehensive inventory of the vascular flora of the Selkirks had been conducted. During the past two summers, more than 4,000 unique vascular plants were collected over the 886 square mile study area. The study resulted in many interesting finds, including state and county collection records, and an updated inventory of nearly 95 plant families.
To access the YouTube recording, go to: https://youtu.be/gEAJ1vJqwFU
January 2021 Meeting
Whitebark pine: Current status and threats that led to proposed protections under the Endangered Species Act
If you missed the live Zoom program today, it is now available on the Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society’s YouTube Channel. If you already saw it, please recommend it to a friend.
The guest speaker is Christy Cleaver, U.S. Forest Service Plant Pathologist
About the speaker: Since 2015, Christy Cleaver has been a Plant Pathologist in Coeur d’Alene with the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Health Protection, which monitors forest diseases and insects, conducts forest health evaluations, and provides management guidance, training, and conservation education. Christy received B.S. degrees in Forest Biology and Natural Resource Management and an M.S. in Ecology, with an emphasis in Forest Pathology, from Colorado State University. She has worked in forest pathology for 11 years in Colorado, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho with emphasis on white pine blister rust and high elevation white pines.
Program description: Whitebark pine, a critical component of high elevation ecosystems in the western U.S. and Canada, was recently proposed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The normally long-lived, stress-tolerant pine is declining throughout most of its range due to a combination of the introduced disease white pine blister rust, mountain pine beetle, fire, and climate change. Restoration efforts are ongoing and include a National Whitebark Pine Restoration Plan. Learn how you can help protect whitebark pines.
To access the YouTube recording, go to: https://youtu.be/MrAUHUwS7N4
February 2021 Meeting
Ferns of North Idaho
The guest speaker is Derek Antonelli, Calypso Chapter of Idaho Native Plant Society
About the speaker: Derek Antonelli (a retired US Air Force officer) is the president of the Calypso Chapter of the Idaho Native Plant Society (INPS) serving the Coeur d'Alene area. He leads the North Idaho Rare Plant Working Group for INPS. Derek is a charter member of the Pend Oreille Chapter of the Idaho Master Naturalist Program serving the Sandpoint area. He is an amateur botanist who has been studying and collecting plants for 40 years.
Program description: Ferns are a fascinating and diverse group of plants. In many ways they are very much like the flowering plants we are all so familiar with, but they have some striking differences. Derek Antonelli with the Idaho Native Plant Society will cover the natural history of this group of plants and describe anatomical features that make the group special. This knowledge will make identifying ferns a whole lot easier. Northern Idaho, with its higher levels of precipitation, has the highest diversity of fern in the state. Derek will show photos of a number of these ferns and fern allies.
To access the YouTube recording, go to: https://youtu.be/JfqlTwSjhFs
March 2021 Meeting
Kaniksu Land Trust: Conservation and Education
If you missed the live Zoom program on March 27th it’s now available on the Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society’s YouTube Channel. If you already saw it, please recommend it to a friend.
The guest speakers are Katie Cox and Regan Plumb from the Kaniksu Land Trust.
About the speakers:
Katie is the Executive Director of the Kaniksu Land Trust. She received her B.S. in Education from the University of Idaho and Masters in Architecture from the University of Washington. Katie has focused her professional life in the fields of Education and Architecture, with a particular interest in building community. For the last decade she has had her own architecture practice, while also wearing many hats in volunteer roles, most notably her work as co-chair of the Pine Street Woods capital campaign. The threads of Katie’s life have woven together her deepest passions – a love of the Idaho landscape, teaching and learning, bringing people together, and spending time outdoors. This makes her the ideal advocate for Kaniksu Land Trust.
Regan is the Conservation Director of the Kaniksu Land Trust. A native of eastern Washington, she settled in the Inland Northwest with her young family in 2007. She holds a B.A. in Biology from Colorado College and an M.S. in Zoology from the University of Wyoming. She has worked on wildlife issues in multiple states and across a spectrum of fauna, has directed restoration work for the National Park Service, and is a certified science teacher. Regan has led the land conservation efforts of Kaniksu Land Trust across far north Idaho and northwest Montana since 2013. Her professional and personal interests have always shared the common thread of conservation and responsible stewardship.
Program description: Katie and Regan talk about Kaniksu Land Trust’s Conservation and Education and programs. They explain how they make a nature connection for young students and guide us through a typical enrichment program. They discuss KLT’s collaboration with the Kalispel Tribe for tree and plant identification and introduce their sister Community Forest, Indian Creek, which is beautifully managed by the Kalispel Tribe. They also present their most recent venture into rotational grazing and the impact that has had not only on Pine Street Woods, but our community as well.
To access the YouTube recording, go to: https://youtu.be/q2cGiydMsbM
April 2021 Meeting
City Nature Challenge 2021: Bonner County
If you missed the live Zoom program yesterday, it is now available, but only at the Zoom website (See below for details on how to access the video.) The speakers are George Gehrig and Preston Andrews, both members of Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society.
Also, a PDF file of the presentation slides is attached, which provide links and information that will be helpful for participating in the City Nature Challenge 2021: Bonner County BioBlitz Friday through Monday, April 30 - May 3.
Program description:
City Nature Challenge, a nature BioBlitz that is coming to Bonner County in just a few days. Learn about City Nature Challenge 2021: Bonner County - What it is, why it’s important, and how you can participate. All that’s required to take part in the City Nature Challenge 2021: Bonner County is a phone camera, the iNaturalist app, and a keen interest in nature. Learn more about it at https://www.facebook.com/City-Nature-Challenge-2021-Bonner-County-ID-106106278046164
About the speakers:
George Gehrig is a member of the Pend Oreille Chapter of the Idaho Master Naturalists, and is an IDAH2O Master Watershed Steward. He retired a couple years ago after a career in academic medicine, and now volunteers and advocates for environmental non-profits. His primary interests are biodiversity and watershed health at the landscape level.
Preston Andrews is Program Coordinator and member of the Board of KNPS. He is an Emeritus Professor of Horticulture from Washington State University, where he focused on the environmental physiology of woody plants. His primary scientific interests now are the ecological physiology of plants in their native habitats and utilizing community science to conserve biodiversity.
To access the video recording, go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHaOZXp2Vf4
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Click here for slides of this meeting
May 2021 Meeting
September 2021 Meeting
Amy Anderson, Executive Director, Selkirk Conservation Alliance
Selkirk Conservation Alliance: Regional threats to water quality and SCA’s work to protect it.
The Selkirk Conservation Alliance works to engage the public in southern Selkirk resource and land management issues through science, education, and economic diversity. In this presentation Amy Anderson will cover the basic threats to regional surface and groundwater quality in the Priest Lake basin. She will discuss point and non-point source pollution and current water quality issues, like invasive species and fish die offs, in Priest Lake and regional tributary streams. The presentation will also cover SCA’s pillar programs: Education, Scientific Research and Advocacy!
Amy Anderson is the new Executive Director of the Selkirk Conservation Alliance located in Priest River. Amy was raised on a small working farm in SE Iowa, but came west to study at University of Idaho, graduating in 2008. She has lived and worked in the Pacific Northwest for the past 23 years. During that time she has worked for several Inland Northwest tribes, including the Coeur d’Alene, Kalispel, Kootenai, Spokane, and Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, on their habitat restoration projects. Prior to joining SCA, she was the Environmental Programs Director for the Kootenai Environmental Alliance, including management of the Coeur d’Alene Lake Waterkeeper. Now, she leads SCA in their efforts to protect the natural resources of our beautiful southern Selkirk ecosystem.
To access the YouTube video of the meeting go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cawTgBJQ45k&t=35s
October 2021 Meeting
Western Redcedar Dieback and Community Science in the Pacific Northwest
Program description: Western redcedar is a culturally, ecologically and economically important tree to western North America, but recent increases in dieback have raised concern about its vulnerability to hotter and dryer climates. Attend this presentation to learn about a community science approach to address the urgent need for Information and ensure western redcedar remains on the landscape for future generations.
About the speaker: Dr. Joey Hulbert is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Washington State University. He has a background in forest health and is available to answer questions about tree health issues. Joey is the Founder and Director of the Forest Health Watch program, an initiative to make tree science accessible and provide opportunities to make meaningful contributions to accelerate research.
To access the YouTube recording, go to: https://youtu.be/X68Z4QPZ6R0
November 2021 Meeting
Scotchman Peaks Update presented by Phil Hough
Program description: The Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness are committed to connecting the people of North Idaho and Northwest Montana with their wild backyard that straddles their common border. The Friends’ mission is to make sure this rugged land is saved for our children and grandchildren. Join us to learn about what’s going on, what’s new, and why there are now more than 10,000 Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness
About the speaker: Phil Hough is one of the founding board members and the Executive Director of the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness. He is a founding board member of the Idaho Trails Association and now serves on their advisory board. He is a past president of the Kinnikinnick Chapter of the Idaho Native Plant Society. He is a former chair of the Bonner County Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force. Phil is a member of the Idaho Panhandle Forest Collaborative and a member of the North Idaho Resources Advisory Council. For his conservation work, Phil was awarded the Idaho Conservation League’s highest award for environmental activism for his work to save the incredibly wild Scotchman Peaks.
If you missed our first hybrid in-person/Zoom program this past Saturday, it is now available on the Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society’s YouTube channel. The speaker is Preston Andrews, a member of KNPS.
Program description: A simple invention for conveying plants, based on the astute observations and promotion by an amateur English plantsman, helped build empires, fed their colonies, introduced beloved garden plants, spread invasive species, and then the means to control them.
About the speaker: Preston Andrews is Program Coordinator and Vice-President of the Board of KNPS. He is an Emeritus Professor of Horticulture from Washington State University, and an avid gardener and student of plants.
To access the YouTube recording, go to: https://youtu.be/2ZsrDl70RNA
March 2022 Meeting
The Palouse Prairie Restoration Project
If you missed our hybrid in-person/Zoom program this past Saturday, it is now available on the Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society’s YouTube channel. The speakers are Erik Budsberg, Kristy Snyder and Seth McCullough from Eastern Washington University.
About the program: Eastern Washington University is restoring 120 acres of campus farmland to native Palouse habitat with the goal to preserve natural landscapes, sequester carbon, promote sustainable practices, and engage both campus and Inland Northwest communities. This restoration is a multi-year project that is currently in the initial stages of project design and baseline data collection. The presentation focuses on the development and current state of the project, plant ecology of the northern Palouse region, restoring soil health, and the potential use of biochar as a carbon sequestering soil additive.
About the speakers: Erik Budsberg, EWU Director of Sustainability, has Ph.D. and Master’s degrees from the University of Washington School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, and a B.S. in geology from Western Washington University. At EWU, Dr. Budsberg’s work includes incorporating sustainable planning into campus operations, identifying pathways to carbon neutrality, managing the prairie restoration project, and establishing EWU as a leader in sustainability. Kristy Snyder, Biology M.S. student, has worked in restoration at the California Botanic Garden, and is now learning about Palouse Prairie restoration. Seth McCullough, Biology B.S. student, is a McNair scholar, conducting research on soil health and microbial communities at the restoration site, and has worked as a freshwater invertebrate field technician and soil restoration ecology technician at EWU.
To access the YouTube recording, go to: https://youtu.be/cunjmYZrllY
April 2022 Meeting
Plant Foods of Past Pend Oreille Valley Peoples
If you missed the hybrid in-person/Zoom program this past Saturday, it’s now available on the “KNPS ORG” YouTube channel. The speaker is Dr. Molly Carney from Washington State University.
About the program: Meals are not just about filling up, but are also places and times where people get together to share company, ideas, and create meaningful relationships. The Kalispel people, who have lived in the greater Pend Oreille region since time immemorial, consumed a wide variety of plant foods in the past during these shared mealtimes. Archaeologists with the Kalispel Natural Resources Department and Washington State University are working together to understand the numerous plant foods that were integral parts of past diets and lifeways. Camas, an edible bulb common throughout the region, was a major staple for the Kalispel. But there were many other plant foods that were harvested and consumed, including glacier lily, nodding onion, huckleberries, raspberries, chokecherries, pine nuts and even kinnikinnick! Furthermore, past people engaged with these plants specifically to increase availability and abundance, shaping the region for these subsistence goals. This program will cover some of the edible plant foods of this region with deep time uses, cultural considerations, and even touch on ways to prepare these foods today. This collaborative research is also part of ongoing restoration plans – by drawing from the past, together we can work towards a brighter future.
About the speaker: Molly Carney is an environmental archaeologist and postdoctoral fellow with Washington State University and the Washington Research Foundation. Her main projects focus on the plants and soils of the past, with a focus on how people managed or stewarded their plant resources and associated landscapes. She has worked in collaboration with the Kalispel Tribe for over 8 years and is working with the Tribe on numerous projects related to food security, restoration ecology, and cultural heritage.
To access thus YouTube recording, go to: https://youtu.be/7cnAZzlpJw8
To view previous recorded KNPS programs, go to: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwgUZ_Kp1gr81ROoSlCXelg and https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYQHdoKHTbeY9nzucZCSBlQ