Lava Lake Institute for Science and Conservation

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Lava Lake Institute for Science and Conservation
Not-for-profit Organization
Industry Not-for-profit Conservation
Founded 2004
Founder Brian & Kathleen Bean
Headquarters Hailey, Idaho
Area served
Central Idaho
Key people
Brian and Kathleen Bean, founders
Tess O'Sullivan, Program Director of Science and Conservation
Website lavalakeinstitute.org

The Lava Lake Institute for Science and Conservation is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to increase scientific knowledge and advance conservation in the Pioneer Mountains (Idaho) and Craters of the Moon National Monument region of south-central Idaho. The Institute is engaged in research and conservation projects.

The Pioneer Mountains are a mountain range in the U.S. state of Idaho, spanning Blaine, Butte and Custer counties. The range is bounded on the west by the Big Wood River, Trail Creek and Summit Creek, and the North Fork Big Lost River, on the north and east by the East Fork Big Lost River, Left Fork Cherry Creek, Cherry Creek, Dry Fork Creek, Saint Louis Canyon, and Champagne Creek, and on the south by the Snake River Plain. The mountains are located within Sawtooth and Challis National Forests.

Contents

Founding

The Institute was established in 2004 by Brian and Kathleen Bean, owners of Lava Lake Ranch who had conducted research and habitat restoration projects on their own deeded and leased public lands. As their own conservation programs increased in size and scope, they recognized the need for an independent non-profit that would promote and conduct scientific research and implement more ambitious conservation projects throughout the region. [1]

Projects

The major project areas of the Lava Lake Institute include land conservation, scientific research, education, and collaboration with partners. Examples of the Institute's work include:

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Lava Lake Land & Livestock is a lamb producer located between the Pioneer Mountains and Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve in South Central Idaho. The ranch consists of 24,000 acres (97 km2) of private land and over 900,000 acres (3,600 km2) of lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), United States Forest Service, National Park Service, and the Idaho Department of Lands.

References

  1. Reinventing Ranching, Sun Valley Magazine, Summer 2009 http://www.sunvalleymag.com/Sun-Valley-Magazine/Summer-2009/Reinventing-Ranching