Danielle Murray and Andres Esparza from the Conservation Lands Foundation discuss their ongoing efforts to conserve public land through grassroots organizing, and how the new Climate Atlas mapping tool can help.

Danielle Murray and Andres Esparza from the Conservation Lands Foundation discuss their ongoing efforts to conserve public land through grassroots organizing, and how the new Climate Atlas mapping tool can help.

The Climate Atlas

Discussing climate change, habitat restoration, and management goals with Ann Marie Raymondi, the ecologist for the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey NCA.

Discussing climate change, habitat restoration, and management goals with Ann Marie Raymondi, the ecologist for the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey NCA.

The State of the NCA with Ann Marie Raymondi

Former Utah State University graduate student Scott Zimmer discusses his research on climate models that predict vegetation and habitat changes in the Intermountain West. We discuss what these projections tell us about our rapidly changing landscapes, and how these findings can be used by land managers.

Former Utah State University graduate student Scott Zimmer discusses his research on climate models that predict vegetation and habitat changes in the Intermountain West. We discuss what these projections tell us about our rapidly changing landscapes, and how these findings can be used by land managers.

Climate Modeling in the Intermountain West

Dr. Jen Pierce is an Associate Professor in the Geoscience Department at Boise State University. She is an expert on the impact of Climate Change on Wildfire, and is currently engaged in research about carbon sequestration in desert ecosystems. Dr. Pierce spoke with Dedication Point co-hosts about what the future may hold for sagebrush steppe ecosystems in Southwest Idaho.

Dr. Jen Pierce is an Associate Professor in the Geoscience Department at Boise State University. She is an expert on the impact of Climate Change on Wildfire, and is currently engaged in research about carbon sequestration in desert ecosystems. Dr. Pierce spoke with Dedication Point co-hosts about what the future may hold for sagebrush steppe ecosystems in Southwest Idaho.

Wildfire, Climate Change, and Carbon Sequestration on the Snake River Plain

Patty Glick is the lead author of a new paper that lays out a framework for land management in our modern era of climate change. She explains how the framework was crafted and how it can help land managers adapt their practices to account for our rapidly changing climate.

Patty Glick is the lead author of a new paper that lays out a framework for land management in our modern era of climate change. She explains how the framework was crafted and how it can help land managers adapt their practices to account for our rapidly changing climate.

Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) - A Climate-Conscious Approach to Land Management

A panel of raptor biologists discuss the current effort to survey the Snake River canyon’s Prairie falcon population. As you’ll hear in the discussion, the Snake River canyon is a very special place for prairie falcons, and the full canyon survey that’s currently underway is part of a monumental effort to assess the size and health of this unique population.

A panel of raptor biologists discuss the current effort to survey the Snake River canyon’s Prairie falcon population. As you’ll hear in the discussion, the Snake River canyon is a very special place for prairie falcons, and the full canyon survey that’s currently underway is part of a monumental effort to assess the size and health of this unique population.

The Full-Canyon Prairie Falcon Survey

Amanda Hoffman

Amanda Hoffman is the current manager of the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey NCA. She took over this role in March of 2016, having previously served as the acting associate monument manager at Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. We talked with Amanda about the challenges that she’s faced since becoming the manager of this NCA, and how she’s taken lessons from the unique history of the area.

Amanda Hoffman is the current manager of the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey NCA. She took over this role in March of 2016, having previously served as the acting associate monument manager at Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. We talked with Amanda about the challenges that she’s faced since becoming the manager of this NCA, and how she’s taken lessons from the unique history of the area.

Julie Heath

Dr. Julie Heath is a professor in the department of Biological Sciences and the Raptor Research Center at Boise State University. Her research lab is focused on addressing questions about how birds respond to large scale environmental change. She has conducted numerous research projects within the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey NCA, working with a number of other researchers and graduate students. This research has documented how raptors are responding to some of the changes occurring within the NCA and the surrounding area.

Dr. Julie Heath is a professor in the department of Biological Sciences and the Raptor Research Center at Boise State University. Her research lab is focused on addressing questions about how birds respond to large scale environmental change. She has conducted numerous research projects within the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey NCA, working with a number of other researchers and graduate students. This research has documented how raptors are responding to some of the changes occurring within the NCA and the surrounding area.

Kent Carnie

Kent Carnie is a lifelong falconer, longtime board member of the Peregrine Fund, and the founder of the Archives of Falconry. His close friendship with Morley Nelson lasted for many decades, and Carnie played a central role in the decision to relocate the Peregrine Fund’s headquarters to its current home in Boise, ID. We discussed with Mr. Carnie the history of American falconry as well as the influence that Morley Nelson had on the sport. Carnie also explains the role that Morley played in the recovery of the peregrine falcon, and the influence that the Peregrine Fund exerted to support the establishment of the Snake River Birds of Prey NCA.

Kent Carnie is a lifelong falconer, longtime board member of the Peregrine Fund, and the founder of the Archives of Falconry. His close friendship with Morley Nelson lasted for many decades, and Carnie played a central role in the decision to relocate the Peregrine Fund’s headquarters to its current home in Boise, ID. We discussed with Mr. Carnie the history of American falconry as well as the influence that Morley Nelson had on the sport. Carnie also explains the role that Morley played in the recovery of the peregrine falcon, and the influence that the Peregrine Fund exerted to support the establishment of the Snake River Birds of Prey NCA.

Roger Rosentreter is a retired BLM botanist – he spent 35 years working as the Idaho BLM state botanist.  During that time Roger worked throughout Idaho and the Intermountain West, but always maintained a strong connection with the high desert ecosystems of the sagebrush steppe, and has spent quite a bit of time working in the NCA.  He has amassed a wealth of knowledge about the introduction of invasive species such as cheatgrass, and has conducted numerous research projects analyzing the effects of these introductions on native species.  He has authored close to 100 scientific publications over the course of his career.

Roger Rosentreter is a retired BLM botanist – he spent 35 years working as the Idaho BLM state botanist. During that time Roger worked throughout Idaho and the Intermountain West, but always maintained a strong connection with the high desert ecosystems of the sagebrush steppe, and has spent quite a bit of time working in the NCA. He has amassed a wealth of knowledge about the introduction of invasive species such as cheatgrass, and has conducted numerous research projects analyzing the effects of these introductions on native species. He has authored close to 100 scientific publications over the course of his career.

Roger Rosentreter

Dedication Point is a podcast that features stories about the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area in Southwestern Idaho.

John Freemuth

John Freemuth is a professor of public policy at Boise State University, but he also serves as the Cencil Andrus endowed chair of Environment and Public Lands for the Andrus Center for Public Policy. During the Clinton administration, Freemuth served as the chair of the science advisory board for the BLM, so he has a vast depth of knowledge on how science can and should affect public policy. We talked with John Freemuth about the legacy of Cecil Andrus and how science should continue to affect policy in the Snake River Birds of Prey NCA.

John Freemuth is a professor of public policy at Boise State University, but he also serves as the Cencil Andrus endowed chair of Environment and Public Lands for the Andrus Center for Public Policy. During the Clinton administration, Freemuth served as the chair of the science advisory board for the BLM, so he has a vast depth of knowledge on how science can and should affect public policy. We talked with John Freemuth about the legacy of Cecil Andrus and how science should continue to affect policy in the Snake River Birds of Prey NCA.

Dean Hagerman is a historian, graduate student, and former National Guardsman who worked at the Orchard Combat Training Center within the Snake River Birds of Prey NCA. As someone with both direct experience working for the National Guard at their training area inside the NCA, and a graduate student studying the history of this very area, Dean is uniquely positioned to share the history behind this National Guard training center. And this history is quite unique – as Dean points out, there are no other examples on the planet of an active military training area operating from within an area protected for environmental reasons.

Dean Hagerman is a historian, graduate student, and former National Guardsman who worked at the Orchard Combat Training Center within the Snake River Birds of Prey NCA. As someone with both direct experience working for the National Guard at their training area inside the NCA, and a graduate student studying the history of this very area, Dean is uniquely positioned to share the history behind this National Guard training center. And this history is quite unique – as Dean points out, there are no other examples on the planet of an active military training area operating from within an area protected for environmental reasons.

Dean Hagerman

John Sullivan

John Sullivan was the first manager of the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area, serving in this role for over a decade. In our interview, Sullivan provides some fascinating insight into the issues that needed to be addressed during the early years of the NCA, including a contentious relationship with an Army National Guard training center.

John Sullivan was the first manager of the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area, serving in this role for over a decade. In our interview, Sullivan provides some fascinating insight into the issues that needed to be addressed during the early years of the NCA, including a contentious relationship with an Army National Guard training center.

Tracy Andrus is the middle daughter of former Idaho governor and secretary of the interior Cecil Andrus. Tracy has a wealth of amazing stories about growing up in the Andrus household and traveling to Washington, D.C. for her father’s term as the Interior Secretary. She has become an advocate for public lands in her own right in her role as the president of the Andrus Center for Public Policy at Boise State U, and her insight into the processes behind the establishment of the Snake River Birds of Prey NCA is invaluable.

Tracy Andrus is the middle daughter of former Idaho governor and secretary of the interior Cecil Andrus. Tracy has a wealth of amazing stories about growing up in the Andrus household and traveling to Washington, D.C. for her father’s term as the Interior Secretary. She has become an advocate for public lands in her own right in her role as the president of the Andrus Center for Public Policy at Boise State U, and her insight into the processes behind the establishment of the Snake River Birds of Prey NCA is invaluable.

Tracy Andrus

Ted Howard

All of our previous interviews released as a part of this series have been focused on the very recent history of the Snake River canyon region. This interview with Ted Howard, the tribal chairman of the Shoshone-Paiute tribe, takes us back to the earliest interactions that humanity had with this landscape, and also provides crucial insight into issues over land ownership in Southern Idaho and throughout the West.

All of our previous interviews released as a part of this series have been focused on the very recent history of the Snake River canyon region. This interview with Ted Howard, the tribal chairman of the Shoshone-Paiute tribe, takes us back to the earliest interactions that humanity had with this landscape, and also provides crucial insight into issues over land ownership in Southern Idaho and throughout the West.

Dr. Mark Plew is a professor of Anthropology at Boise State University.  He has spent a significant portion of his career conducting research in the Snake River plain, and has spent more time investigating archaeological sites within the Morley Nelson Snake River birds of Prey NCA than any other archeologist in history.  It this oral history interview Dr. Plew outlines a number of key insights into the ancient history of human occupation in the Snake River canyon, as well as discussing the politics surrounding archeological research in this area.

Dr. Mark Plew

Former Deputy Attorney General for the state of Idaho Clive Strong discusses the Swan Falls controversy of the early 1980s.  This landmark agreement has had far reaching implications for water rights and water law across the US, but it also had a local impact on the establishment of protection for the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey NCA.

Clive Strong

Norm Nelson

Norm Nelson is the oldest son of Morley Nelson, who is widely considered to be the most influential figure in the establishment of a National Conservation Area in the snake river canyon.  What many people don’t realize however, is the substantial role that Morley’s family played in working to get protected status for this unique area.  While Morley was working his full time job as the region’s snow survey supervisor – a job that he held from the late 1940s through the early 1970s – it was often his kids – Norm, Tim, Tyler and Suzie – who were out in the field working to spread awareness about birds of prey.  Norm became interested in both raptors and filmmaking at an early age – he was training eagles and shooting film footage for big time film productions by the time he was in high school.While Morley was pulling strings behind the scenes to secure funding for documentaries about birds of prey in the Snake River canyon, it was often Norm and his younger brother Tyler who were responsible for the creative process behind these influential films.We feel honored to have had the opportunity to interview Norm for this oral history series, and we hope that you enjoy his stories about a lifetime of work in the Snake River canyon as much as we did!

Norm Nelson is the oldest son of Morley Nelson, who is widely considered to be the most influential figure in the establishment of a National Conservation Area in the snake river canyon. What many people don’t realize however, is the substantial role that Morley’s family played in working to get protected status for this unique area. While Morley was working his full time job as the region’s snow survey supervisor – a job that he held from the late 1940s through the early 1970s – it was often his kids – Norm, Tim, Tyler and Suzie – who were out in the field working to spread awareness about birds of prey. Norm became interested in both raptors and filmmaking at an early age – he was training eagles and shooting film footage for big time film productions by the time he was in high school. While Morley was pulling strings behind the scenes to secure funding for documentaries about birds of prey in the Snake River canyon, it was often Norm and his younger brother Tyler who were responsible for the creative process behind these influential films. We feel honored to have had the opportunity to interview Norm for this oral history series, and we hope that you enjoy his stories about a lifetime of work in the Snake River canyon as much as we did!

Larry LaRocco

Larry LaRocco served as a congressman from Idaho’s 1st congressional district in the US House of Representatives from 1991 through 1995.  When he was elected, LaRocco knew very little about the Snake River canyon region, but he had cut his teeth as a politician working on wilderness legislation in central Idaho as a field coordinator for Senator Frank Church.LaRocco entered congress at a moment when Morley Nelson, Cecil Andrus and others were starting to become concerned about the need to permanently protect the Snake River canyon.  The Snake River Birds of Prey Natural Area had been protected through a 20 year administrative withdrawal in 1980, so by 1991 there were less than 10 years left to make that protection permanent.  Representative LaRocco took this issue on, and was able to use his experience in  public lands issues to sponsor legislation establishing permanent protection for the Snake River canyon region.This legislation was Larry LaRocco’s greatest political victory - without Representative LaRocco, the area might have lost it’s protected status.

Larry LaRocco served as a congressman from Idaho’s 1st congressional district in the US House of Representatives from 1991 through 1995. When he was elected, LaRocco knew very little about the Snake River canyon region, but he had cut his teeth as a politician working on wilderness legislation in central Idaho as a field coordinator for Senator Frank Church. LaRocco entered congress at a moment when Morley Nelson, Cecil Andrus and others were starting to become concerned about the need to permanently protect the Snake River canyon. The Snake River Birds of Prey Natural Area had been protected through a 20 year administrative withdrawal in 1980, so by 1991 there were less than 10 years left to make that protection permanent. Representative LaRocco took this issue on, and was able to use his experience in public lands issues to sponsor legislation establishing permanent protection for the Snake River canyon region. This legislation was Larry LaRocco’s greatest political victory - without Representative LaRocco, the area might have lost it’s protected status.

Dean Bibles played a key role in one of the most important actions connected to the establishment of the Snake River Birds of Prey NCA - the 1980 withdrawal by then Secretary of the Interior Cecil Andrus, which created the current boundaries for this protected area.  It was actually Dean's idea to increase the boundary of what was then called the Snake River Birds of Prey Natural Area, via an administrative withdrawal, which he suggested to Cecil Andrus on a float trip down the Snake River canyon.Dean went on to serve in a variety of public office roles throughout his long career, and he maintains that the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey NCA is the only protected area in the world whose boundaries were established based upon scientific research into the habitat requirements of the animals that live there.

Dean Bibles played a key role in one of the most important actions connected to the establishment of the Snake River Birds of Prey NCA - the 1980 withdrawal by then Secretary of the Interior Cecil Andrus, which created the current boundaries for this protected area. It was actually Dean's idea to increase the boundary of what was then called the Snake River Birds of Prey Natural Area, via an administrative withdrawal, which he suggested to Cecil Andrus on a float trip down the Snake River canyon. Dean went on to serve in a variety of public office roles throughout his long career, and he maintains that the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey NCA is the only protected area in the world whose boundaries were established based upon scientific research into the habitat requirements of the animals that live there.

Dean Bibles

Dedication Point is a podcast that features stories about the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area in Southwestern Idaho.

Dedication Point

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