Keep the Serene Pristine: Join IRU’s 2023 River Stewards programs!

Learn about IRU’s various river steward volunteer programs here!

The Sawtooth River Stewardship (SRS)

The Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA) offers some of the most scenic views in Idaho. Expanding over 756,000 acres in central Idaho, it is home to the headwaters of the Salmon, Big Wood, Boise, and Payette Rivers and it consists of over 300 alpine lakes and 40 mountain peaks reaching over 10,000 feet.

The beauty of the SNRA draws in thousands of visitors annually and provides a multitude of recreational opportunities for whitewater rafters, fishers, backpackers, cyclists, and campers. As tourism continues to grow in the SNRA, environmental stewardship will be a key component to keeping this unique section of Idaho pristine for future generations.

Help keep the SNRA pristine by joining IRU’s 2023 Sawtooth River Stewardship volunteer program. This program has two environmental stewardship opportunities for volunteers to engage in to help protect the SNRA – Leave No Trace Stewardship and Sawtooth Salmon Stewardship. 

• Leave No Trace (LNT) Stewardship 

  • The purpose of this program is to protect the SNRA while you recreate by leaving trails better than you found them. This stewardship is self-guided. Stewards are responsible for ensuring that their efforts benefit the SNRA by making improvements to at least one trail, campsite, or lake shore. LNT steward will be required to make a photo journal documenting their efforts. 

  • The LNT steward’s training is on June 21st from 5:30-7PM and is virtual. The training will be hosted by the USFS and IRU staff and will cover topics such as the Leave No Trace ethics, best practices for picking up litter, dismantling fire rings, and neutralizing backcountry campgrounds. 

  • This program runs from June 21st to the last weekend in September. The LNT program is open to all ages, but anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

• Sawtooth Salmon Stewards

  • The Sawtooth Salmon Stewardship program is for individuals looking for an advanced stewardship opportunity centered around protecting salmon and restoring rivers in the SNRA. 

  • Stewards will be responsible for either leading a river engagement station in the SNRA or volunteering to work on a river restoration project with the USFS. Sawtooth Salmon  stewards will receive training on how to run a river engagement station and how to interact with the SNRA visitors. This program runs from August 15 - Sept 2.

  • To become a Sawtooth Salmon Steward you are required to attend an in-person training held in Stanley, ID at the Stanley USFS Ranger Station located at 9900 HC 64, Stanley, ID 83278 on July 15th from 10:00-2:00PM. The training will be led by IRU and USFS staff and will cover topics such as salmon life cycles, identifying salmon egg nests (aka redds), and responsible fishing practices, as well as how to promote IRU’s mission to protect and restore the rivers of Idaho.

  • Click the link to sign-up for our Sawtooth River Stewards program or if you have questions about the program please contact our volunteer coordinator, Lindsey, at lindsey@idahorivers.org.

The Boise Urban River Stewardship (URS)

Those looking for an environmental stewardship opportunity close to home can join our Urban Rivers Stewards (URS) program. It is dedicated to connecting locals to their urban rivers by focusing on educating the public about the important roles these rivers play in the development of our communities. 

Boise URS volunteers are required to participate in at least three river steward activities. These activities include Boise River clean-ups, conducting a water quality testing survey, or leading a river engagement station on either the Boise River greenbelt or at an IRU event. While leading a river engagement station, URS volunteers will have the opportunity to educate the local community about the important role the Boise River plays in our community. All URS volunteers will be training on how to conduct these activities.

All Boise URS must attend an in-person training session on July 13th from 6-8 PM at the Idaho Rivers United office located at 3380 W Americana Terrace STE 140, Boise, ID 83706. 

• This program is open to all ages, but anyone under the age of 16 must have a parent or guardian present while participating in URS activities and training. 

• This program runs from July 13th through the end of October. If you are interested in applying for the URS program or have any questions, please email our Volunteer Coordinator, Lindsey at lindsey@idahorivers.org.