POCATELLO — The Sagebrush Steppe Land Trust is pleased to announce our acceptance of a generous $10,000 grant from the Idaho Fish & Wildlife Foundation.
The grant will go toward the land trust’s ongoing stewardship of the Century Heights Preserve in Pocatello.
“We are incredibly grateful for this investment into the preserve, which provides important wildlife habitat and opportunities for the public to connect with nature,” said Heath Mann, executive director of the Sagebrush Steppe Land Trust.
The 266-acre preserve, which is located near Century High School in Pocatello, is protected open space that provides habitat for wildlife and refuge for native plants. Mule deer, coyotes, rattlesnakes, golden eagles, hawks, sagebrush lizards, occasional moose and elk, and several threatened species — like the little brown myotis bat — are among the animals that make their home on the preserve.
“The Idaho Fish & Wildlife Foundation is proud to partner with the Sagebrush Steppe Land Trust in the continuation of the improvements being made to the Century Heights property,” said Hilarie Engle, executive director of the Idaho Fish & Wildlife Foundation. “The property is situated within the urban interface, giving the citizens of Pocatello a unique opportunity to recreate, but also watch as habitat improvements take place on the landscape.”
Sagebrush Steppe owns, maintains, and improves the land in a number of ways, including by planting native flora — such as sagebrush, bitterbrush, and serviceberry — to restore the landscape and improve ecosystem health and wildlife habitat. The land trust also suppresses invasive plants, and has built and improved a trailhead for public access.
“The Idaho Fish & Wildlife Foundation’s support will allow us to continue with this important work,” said Eric Pankau, the stewardship manager for Sagebrush Steppe. “Protected open spaces like Century Heights help sustain Idaho’s wildlife heritage, while modeling what effective stewardship can accomplish, and creating recreation and education opportunities for the public.”
The grant dollars will go toward improving the preserve’s access road, adding signs to the trailhead, and continuing to improve the landscape and wildlife habitat.
Century Heights is open to the public for non-motorized use from April to October each year, and is an excellent destination for birdwatching, photography, hiking, mountain biking, and scenic views.
the two-track until about the treeline and you will see some trails to the left and right. Trails are present, but not
maintained.
Sagebrush Steppe asks that recreators leash dogs and stay on trails as much as possible in order to protect the native fauna we are planting. Seasonal closures are in place to protect the thousands of mule deer that winter on the land each year.
The Idaho Fish & Wildlife Foundation is a nonprofit that was created to provide resources to Idaho Fish and Game and other nonprofits so they can help Idaho’s wildlife thrive.
The Sagebrush Steppe Land Trust is a nonprofit organization based in Pocatello and serving seven counties in Southeast Idaho. Our mission is to protect, connect, and enhance wildlife habitat, working lands, and community spaces in Southeast Idaho, now and for future generations.
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