Idaho

The Where We Live project has partnered with community organizations and residents in Troy, Deary, Juliaetta, Kendrick, Bovill, and Elk River to better understand local perceptions of wildfire, heat, and drought. These engagement efforts have informed the co-development of adaptation pathways by identifying key vulnerabilities as well as strategic opportunities to strengthen community resilience. We are especially grateful to local fire departments and first responders for their support and encouragement throughout this collaborative process.

Looking ahead, we plan to re-engage with these communities to share our findings and collaboratively identify remaining knowledge gaps, which will help guide the next phase of our work.

From September to November 2025, our team engaged residents across six rural Idaho communities—Troy, Deary, Kendrick, Juliaetta, Bovill, and Elk River—to better understand local experiences with climate-related hazards.

Community Survey

• Conducted 23 field visits across the six communities
• Collected 520 in-person surveys, representing approximately 17% of each community’s population
• Used a convenience sampling approach, recruiting participants at:
  • Community events (e.g., the Juliaetta Blackberry Festival and community lunches)
  • High-traffic public locations such as libraries and grocery stores

What We’re Learning

Initial analysis suggests that residents’ perceptions of the magnitude and seasonality of heat, drought, and wildfire help explain differences in how they prepare for and respond to these hazards.

Ongoing Analysis

In partnership with community stakeholders, including first responders, mayors, residents, and others, we are conducting collaborative sessions to assess the relative ignition risk and sustained burning potential of vegetation types found in and around local communities. By pairing stakeholder perceptions with experimental measures, we aim to identify key vulnerabilities and opportunities for implementing adaptation strategies that communities have already prioritized, including the maintenance of defensible space around properties.