Sagebrush in Prisons

Idaho

ISCC: Idaho State Correctional Center

Growing 54,768 native plants for Sage-grouse habitat.

  • ISCC is the largest prison in Idaho, housing maximum, medium, and minimum custody male offenders. It is located at Kuna, Idaho, near Boise.
  • A team of 2 – 40 inmates in the medium security facility work on seed sowing and day-to-day care of the plants.
  • In 2015 , ISCC grew a total of 53, 950 sagebrush for Idaho and Oregon BLM.
  • In 2016 ISCC grew 60,000 plants: Wyoming big sagebrush and bitterbrush.
  • In 2017 ISCC grew 70,000 plants: Wyoming big sagebrush and bitterbrush.
  • In 2018 the ISCC sagebrush crew grew 59,504 sagebrush and bitterbrush plants.
  • In 2019, ISCC grew 54,768 plants: 50,568 Wyoming big sagebrush and 4,200 bitterbrush.

Project Photos

SBWCC: South Boise Women’s Correctional Center

Growing 27,796 native plants for Sage-grouse habitat.

  • SBWCC is a treatment and transition facility for minimum security female offenders. It is located in Kuna, Idaho.
  • A team of 2-30 women work on seed sowing and daily care of the plants.
  • In 2015, SBWCC grew 11,000 sagebrush for Idaho and Oregon BLM.
  • SBWCC grew a total of 30,000 sagebrush for 2016.
  • In 2017, SBWCC is grew 30,000 sagebrush plants for post fire rehabilitation.
  • In 2018, SBWCC grew 24,886 sagebrush plants.
  • In 2019 SBWCC grew 26,796 sagebrush and 1,000 bitterbrush plants.
Sagebrush in Prisons Project

Project Photos

SPP Media Coverage and News Stories in Idaho

Fall 2022: Residents of South Boise Women’s Correctional Center learn horticulture through a pollinator garden.

Spring 2020: Audubon Magazine: Meet the Inmates Working to Rebuild the Greater Sage-Grouse’s Home // NATIONAL

10/17/18: KITV : Idaho inmates help save sage grouse habitat by growing sage brush from seeds to plant in the desert

10/18/18 KTVB Boise: Idaho inmates help with fire rehabilitation

10/14/18 Idaho press: Inmates help restore habitat through sagebrush planting program

6/2/18 Elko Daily Free Press: Sagebrush Savvy

10/10/17 KIVI TV “Female Prisoners help repair fire damage by creating thousands of sage seedlings,” news segment

10/09/17: East Idaho News, “Prison inmates working to restore greater sage grouse habitat,” news article

01/27/2017: Idaho Partners Continue long-term habitat rehab” article

04/20/16: KTVB TV “Inmates to grow plants to protect sage-grouse” news article

04/19/16: KIVI TV “Inmates help plant seeds in wildfire devastated areas” news article