Trout Friendly Yard Certification
Yard by yard, we can all make a difference.
What's Trout Friendly?
The Trout Friendly Yard Certification offers a simple way for people to make a difference at home! The certification advises how renters and homeowners alike can support the health of the Big Wood River. Across five levels, the certification outlines landscaping practices that:
CONSERVE WATER
CREATE
BACKYARD HABITATS
IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH FOR WATER QUALITY
The health of the Big Wood's gravel bed river floodplain relies on ample and clean flows of water, plus a biodiversity of plant and animal life. By embracing Trout Friendly landscaping, you're supporting the health of the ecosystem-- the soil, plants, bugs and fish-- that keep the Big Wood River flowing and alive.
Explore the Trout Friendly Yard Certification
Levels & Criteria
Download the Trout Friendly Yard Certification level and criteria guide. Which level are you going to aim for this year?
Thank you to our
Trout Friendly sponsors!
Frequently Asked Questions
What plants are native to Blaine County? Check out the native plant lists and resources from the Idaho Native Plant Society or reach out to the Blaine County Chapter at woodriver@idahonativeplants.org to learn about which plants are native to and grow best in Blaine County. You may also reach out to the Trout Friendly business sponsors to learn which native plants are available to purchase locally.
Can renters’ yards become Trout Friendly certified? Yes! We’re excited to welcome and incentivize renters in making their yards Trout Friendly. Renters may complete any 5 criteria across any of the four levels to become a grasshopper and earn a Trout Friendly Yard Certificate.
Can HOAs participate? Absolutely! HOA participation can maximize the benefits of landscaping improvements. Please have a liaison– perhaps an enthusiastic resident, property manager or HOA Board member– reach out to caroline@woodriverlandtrust.org to identify a target level for Trout Friendly Yard Certification.
Can I be firewise and Trout Friendly? Absolutely! Trout Friendly landscaping improvements can be tailored to also enhance resistance to wildfire. Such “crossover landscaping” requires attention to” placement, the flammability of plants, groundcovers, rocks, and native plantings. Check out Headwaters Economics, Idaho Firewise and Oregon State University for resources on crossover and firewise landscaping. If you’re interested in fuels mitigation projects surrounding your home, please reach out to Keri York at keri@woodriverlandtrust.org or Chris Corwin at ccorwin@blainecounty.id.us.
What is a four-season garden, what is a winter garden? A four-season garden for the Wood River Valley includes plants that can survive our winters– with average minimum temperatures just below freezing and anomalies in the low single digits. Plant hardiness or growing zones in the County range across Zones 4b (-25°F to -20°F), 5a (-20°F to -15°F), 5b (-15°F to -10°F), 6a (-10°F to -5°F) and 6b (-5°F to 0°F). Winter gardens can also incorporate plants, like Dogwood, red-osier (Cornus sericea, C. stolonifera), which retains its ornamental red twigs throughout the cold months. A four season garden also blooms throughout the growing season, feeding pollinators and looking beautiful from early spring to late fall. Layering plants of different heights, textures and colors will create a variety of habitats for insects and pollinators– especially with native plants!
What are some alternatives to synthetic insecticides, herbicides and pesticides? Building up soil health supports healthy plants that grow to resist pests and diseases– eliminating the need for synthetic fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides that generate harmful runoff and compromise the health of the Big Wood and its tributaries. To build up soil health, the Trout Friendly Yard Certification requires regular application of compost to the soil. To target specific problems, like white mildew or box bugs, refer to guides from the Environmental Resource Center, ADIOS and Beyond Pesticides. Or, reach out to Cece Osborn at cece@woodriverlandtrust.org.
Where can I get compost? We recommend sourcing locally produced compost from Winn’s Compost, or creating your own! Check out the University of California, Santa Barbara’s Department of Public Worms for guidance on vermicomposting, or reach out to Cece Osborn at cece@woodriverlandtrust.org for recommendations.
What is the best time of day to water my yard? During the hot summer months, irrigate your yard at dawn or dusk– to reduce evaporation. According to the EPA, you can lose as much as 30 percent of water to evaporation by watering midday!
Are certain types of irrigation more efficient than others? Certain types of irrigation systems are more water wise than others. To reduce evaporation, the Trout Friendly Yard Certification supports participants to employ soil moisture sensors, optimize watering schedules, and install systems that reduce evaporation and conserve water. Reach out to Cece Osborn at cece@woodriverlandtrust.org for more information.
Can I have a lawn made of native grass? Yes! Various vendors, locally and from the wider region, sell seed mixes and sod for drought-tolerant and native turf grasses– to create a waterwise lawn. Examples include blue grama grass, buffalo grass, and fescue grasses; as well as the Magic Valley Montane Mix.
What are noxious weeds? Noxious weeds are invasive exotic plants designated by the State of Idaho as being hazardous to public health, the environment or the economy. Idaho has 67 noxious weeds. Noxious weeds pose threats to native plant life and wildlife.So, identifying and eradicating noxious weeds in your yard is key to making it Trout Friendly. Blaine County’s Noxious Weeds Program educational and staff resources are available to help you stop the spread.
Is Trout Friendly landscaping also friendly to birds and bees? Yes! The Trout Friendly Yard Certification focuses on building up soil health not only to discourage toxic treatments, but also to support the ecosystems that invertebrates and birds rely on. Compared to their size, invertebrates play an outsized role in ecosystems. Invertebrates decay matter, excrete nutrients to the soil for plants to absorb, and return nutrients through the food web to other insects, amphibians, birds and mammals. By treating soils with nutrient rich compost and ceasing the use of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides– Trout Friendly Yards create habitats for invertebrates to thrive. Perhaps inside and certainly beyond your yard, thriving invertebrate populations pollinate plants, feed birds and fish. In addition to creating soil and capturing the sun’s energy, invertebrates large and small provide other ecosystem services including pollination to ensure a diverse human food supply and reproduction of wild plants. We rely on them almost unknowingly and often without respect given the magnitude of their importance. To learn more, check out the Cornell Lab’s article, “To Bring Birds to Your Garden, Grow Native Plants: Here’s How to Get Started.”
How does runoff from synthetic fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides affect river health? Synthetic fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides introduce nitrogen, phosphorous and other chemical compounds that seep through our unconfined aquifer into local groundwater or run off into nearby waterways in the Big Wood River basin. High levels of runoff can disrupt river health by fueling algal blooms that reduce dissolved oxygen, harm aquatic life and exacerbate the negative effects of high water temperatures– especially when water levels are low. Using organic fertilizers, like landscape clippings and compost, can help promote plant growth and encourage healthy soils without harming water quality.