Stewardship Team for Bethine Church Trail

By Kerry Fitzharris, Bethine Church Boise River Trail Stewardship Team

The Bethine Church Boise River Trail in east Boise near Bown Crossing has long been a favorite bird walk for Golden Eagle Audubon. The Trail is a natural pathway that follows the river, providing beautiful views of the water, wildlife and nature. This unique pedestrian-only reach of the Boise River Greenbelt was named after Bethine Church in 2008. Bethine was a fierce defender of Idaho’s public lands. She was the founder and former president of the Sawtooth Society. She died in 2014, thirty years after her husband, U.S. Senator Frank Church passed away. A mile-long section was officially adopted by Golden Eagle Audubon many years ago as part of the City of Boise Greenbelt Adoption Program.

Kerry F., Carrie H, Polly, Tiffany, Dan, Alan

Stewardship Team Formed

A new Bethine Church Boise River Trail Stewardship Team was formed this year to assist long-time stewards Alan and Alice Crockett in caring for and improving the trail. Alan and Alice have spent considerable time along the trail, caring for the area by putting up bird boxes, eliminating invasive species, planting native plants to improve the habitat and installing cages around vulnerable Black Cottonwood trees. Other volunteers in the past have also helped. 

The five-member Team of Polly Peterson, Carrie Hanousek, Dan Carruthers, Tiffany Reese and myself is advised by Alan Crockett. We’ve met twice in the field to learn from Alan and gain understanding of the necessary tasks. We’ve divided the trail into smaller work sections and determined what projects would be best undertaken and in what season. 

Tackling Invasive Weeds

One of our first tasks has been to weed along the sides of the path, primarily digging out the invasive Hound’s-tongue (Cynoglossum offininale) introduced from Europe. The plant owes its common name to the greyish leaves that resemble a dog’s tongue and were once given as a remedy for dog bites. Unfortunately, it is spreading throughout the area pushing out native species.

We also inventoried the Black Cottonwood trees to determine how many new, sturdier wire cages will be needed to replace the less-effective chicken wire cages that have been installed around the trees in the past. We removed several of the latter and took a count of what we’ll need to replace them to prevent beaver damage. Some of the cottonwood trees were also trimmed by pruning side shoots.

In addition to removing Hound’s-tongue and carrying out a cottonwood tree cage inventory, we also weeded around the native plants that have been added to this stretch of the trail over the years. This included weeding around Bitterbrush and young willow trees, as well as weeding around young cottonwood trees.

Better for the Birds

Future work times will be dedicated to on-going maintenance. This will include weeding, potential planting of native species, caging Black Cottonwoods, and improving bird habitat, including the maintenance of the 13+ nest boxes that Alan has put in over the years.

Our trail team has enjoyed learning from Alan Crockett. We’ve loved learning about the care that has gone into this beautiful site, and we often think about Bethine Church as we’re working and how she would appreciate this trail that was dedicated in her name.