Selkirk Conservation Alliance
Keeping the Wild in the Selkirk Ecosystem
Our Mission is to engage the public in southern Selkirk resource and land management issues through cooperation, scientific inquiry, education, and economic diversification.
Who We Are
Protecting Your Selkirks
Selkirk Conservation Alliance (SCA)
The SCA stands strong for conservation and protection of the crucial and sensitive natural resources of the Selkirk Mountains; its watershed, its forests, lakes, streams, and rivers. A strong SCA is a force to stop unnecessary destruction of forests, especially old-growth, where it negatively affects wildlife, water quality, and plant life.Learn More About the SCA & The Selkirk Region
What We Do
Project Highlights
Selkirk Grizzly Bears
Grizzly bears originally ranged throughout most of western N. America, but were nearly extirpated by the 1970s and were federally listed as a threatened species in 1975. We support one of just 6 grizzly recovery zones here in the Selkirk Ecosystem.
Selkirk Mountain Caribou
Today, woodland caribou are found in only one location south of Canada, which are the Selkirk Mountains of northern Idaho and northeastern Washington. This small population, which historically numbered in the hundreds of caribou, has been reduced to less than 15 animals.
Campground Safety
From 2012 through 2014, the SCA worked with several eagle scout candidates and boy scout troops to install 16 bear proof food storage lockers in state and federal campgrounds around Priest Lake.
Hydroelectric Projects
SCA is involved in several dam projects, including Sullivan Dam Surrender Project, Boundary Dam Re-Licensing Project, Albeni Falls Dam, and Box Canyon Dam. These waterways are important to native peoples, local communities, and wildlife such as Bull Trout and other fish.
Highway 57 Cleanup
For more than a decade, the SCA has been responsible for litter patrols along a one-mile section of Highway 57 between Priest River and Priest Lake. SCA volunteers meet bi-annually on the first Sunday in May and then again on the first Sunday October to clean our section.
Priest Lake Thorofare
SCA conducts periodic water sampling projects to examine water quality and has deployed remote cameras along the waterbody to try and gain a better sense of how many watercraft are using the channel and document wake zone violations.
Priest Lake Water Studies
SCA participates in the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality’s Watershed Advisory Group (WAG) for the Priest Lake and Priest River area and conducts routine water quality monitoring on Priest Lake in conjunction with Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.
Remote Camera Studies
With the help of our 7 remote motion sensing cameras SCA captures encroachments of critical habitats in non-motorized areas, documents the variety and abundance of wildlife in these areas, and documents recreational use and motorized traffic
Timber Sales & Wildfire
The SCA and many of its member activists closely monitor timber sales within our Advocacy Area to make sure that impacts from timber harvest on wildlife, fisheries, and water quality are mitigated as much as possible
Winter Habitat Studies
From 2008 – 2015 the SCA supported several aerial monitoring flights over critical habitat areas which are closed to motorized vehicles. Each flight documented motorized tracks and activity within the critical habitat closure areas.
Selkirk Ecosystem
The Southern Selkirk Mountain ecosystem encompasses portions of Idaho, Washington and British Columbia. It contains a flora and fauna assemblage unique to the lower 48 States. The SCA continues to be engaged with land management agencies in regards to proposed management activities within the Selkirk Ecosystem.
What You Can Do
Make a Difference Today!
Get Involved as a Volunteer
Join the crew with Water Quality
Monitoring, Highway Cleanup, Outdoor Education, clerical support, photography or other skills.
Get Involved
Help Us Protect Your Selkirks by Getting the Word Out!
News Stories
All News
Featured, Slider
SCA on Clean Air Standards
Selkirk Conservation Alliance formally writes today it’s strong support in favor of the Redesignation of the Kalispel Reservation air standard to a Class I Airshed in prevention of significant deterioration of air quality. We further endorse this action for preservation and eventual improvement and retention of high air quality for tribal lands…
Featured, Slider, Water Quality
Newport Smelter Position
SCA Announces its Opposition to the Newport Silicon Smelter September 6, 2018 To: All concerned parties The Selkirk Conservation Alliance writes today to formally announce its opposition to the proposed PacWest Silicon Smelter to be located outside of Newport, WA. The Selkirk Conservation Alliance (SCA) has advocated to protect the Priest Lake/River watershed for the last 31 years. In our …
Featured, Slider, Water Quality
Priest Lake Water Quality Monitoring
Water quality is important aspect of almost all business, homeowners and visitors to the Priest Lake region. A 1996 Recreational User Survey that was conducted by the U.S. Forest Service, Idaho Department of Lands and the University of Idaho indicated that the number of recreation user days to the Priest Lake drainage nearly topped those of Glacier National Park in …
Featured, Slider, Water Quality
Aquatic Species Study, Kalispell Bay
Aquatic Vegetation Update: James Lea, SCA Board Member In the fall 2016 SCA newsletter I had written an article discussing the excessive aquatic vegetation growth along our shorelines in Kalispell Bay and its attendant adverse economic impact. During the summer of 2017, we decided to do something about it. Professor Jan Boll and I conducted a preliminary study of aquatic vegetation …