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BLM LIBRARY w 88069284 THE IDAHO WNDS PROJECT: PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE HD 211 Bureau of Land Management .12 Apnl 1993 133 1993 4 . |T5 MT) ?.U 12 - . X33 THEIDAHOLANDSPROJECT: PRt-PARINC. hOK 1 Ml. I U I U R I. 1^3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Summary: A Rare Opponuniiy 1 The Public Need 2 The Land 3 The Resources 5 An Uncommon Alliance 6 BLM. A Uniquely Qualified Agency 7 To Make It Work 8 A Project That People Want 9 .uiMu ur land MANAGEMENTLIBRARY . BLDG. 50. DENVER FEDERALCENTER A Final Thought 10 P.O. BOX25047 DENVER, COLORADO 80225 4T »n THE IDAHOLANDSPROJECT: I* k I PA R i N Cl I O R 1 II I. t-lj I Li R \ A RARE OPPORTUNITY A rare opportunity is ai hand for BLM important resource qualities Recreation mental Concern, Craig Mountain, the Project in the next few cntical years in Idaho to fulfill a pressing public potential is one quality that is ofspecial largest jointly managed wildlife manage- With that kind ofbacking, BLM can help recreation need and acquire wetlands, interest to BLM. Recreation, particularly ment area in the slate The multiple-use Idaho prepare for the future. Without the wildlife habitat and other lands with high- boating, is booming in northern Idaho benefits ofthe lands identified for support, the needs ofnorthern Idaho may value natural resources BLM’s acquisi- Boat launches are congested dunng the acquisition are outstanding be far more dilficult and expensive to tion efforts are strongly supported by an peakseason, with waits ofup to an hour meet, or worse, the opportunities may impressiv—e array of public and pnvate not uncommon IfBLM acquires prop- It’s an unusual set of circumstances that disappear permanently interests county commissions and erty suitable for launch sites, crowdingat allows The Idaho Lands Project to be — other local government entities, timber the boat ramps will be relieved, safety will possible strong public support, an comparues. chambers ofcommerce, improve and a tremendousservice to the experienced agency interested in acquir- It’s an unusual set of elected officials, conservation organiza- public will be provided ing tracts of land with outstanding circumstances that allows tions, outdoor recreation groups and resource values, and the availability ofthe The Idaho Lands Project to be many others. The Idaho Lands Project involves more land Itself — possible strongpublic than recreational property Lands pro- The Idaho Lands Project proposes to posed for acquisition include three special But the opponuniiies that exist today may support, an experienced acquire private holdings from landowners recreation management areas, as well asa not not be available tomorrow Thai’s why agency interested in acquiring in the eleven northern counties willing to BLM-designated Area ofCntical Environ- It is imperative that public support and tracts ofland with outstanding sell or exchange properties that have fundingcontinue forThe Idaho Unds resource values, and the availability ofthe land itself. " THEIDAHO LANDSPROJECT: PRhPARlNC. hOR Mi. U URh 1 I 1 THE PUBLIC NEED T he driving force behind The Idaho Not only does nonhem Idaho ^^1 In 1Q88, 12,778 boatswere “It’s to the point now where youjust Lands Project is lo fulfill a rapidly have the highest tourism level, but the registered in Kootenai County, where don’t try to launch on weekends in the growing public need A look ai a few key same study also concluded that it has Lake Coeurd’Alene is located. Less than summer,” says one boatowner. “It’s a facts tells the story the highest potential for additional five years later, the number hadjumped to mob scene at every public launch," tourism growth 20,823, a 63 percent increase Although Northern Idaho ser\'es the Kootenai County has only 6.9 percent of Tourism is rapidly becoming the recreation needs ofa greater population The highest demand is for boat all boaiable water in Idaho, almost one in number one industry in northern Idaho. than any other area in the stale, and ranks launch sites and campgrounds around the five boats statewide is registered there. Much of the area’s future economic only behind the Seattle/Tacoma and major lakes in nonhem Idaho. Yet less Close to 50% ofall boats registered in growth and quality oflife depends on Portland regions in the Pacific Northwest, than two percent of Lake Coeur d'Alene's Idaho are in the eleven northern counties the success ofThe Idaho Lands Project in More than 500,000 people live within a shoreline is publicly owned, effectively covered by the Coeurd’Alene Distnct. the next few years. 50 mile radius ofCoeurd’Alene. blocking most public use. A 1Q87 University of Idaho study states that 40% ofall Idaho leisure travelers visit the travel region that "It's to the point now whereyoujust don't try to launch on weekends in the summer, " says one boatowner. encompasses the five nonhem counties "It's a mob scene at everypublic launch. This is by farthe most-visited travel region in the state 2 THEIDAHO LANDSPfiOJECT. P K I. P A R I N (| 1 O k nib bUlURi; THE LAND he properties sought in The Idaho resources provide to the public are two contains quality wetlands. Wildlife Area BLM. Idaho Department of Fish T Lands Project are varied m look, key cnieria when BLM considers proper- viewing, picnickingand fishing are and Game and The Nature Conservancy location and resources. They include land ties that could become pan ofThe Idaho some ofthe other possibilities the jointly manage the Craig Mountain that is home to bald eagles and crossed by Lands Project 32-acre parcel offers Wildlife Management Area, making streams that are habitat forsalmon and It the largest cooperative effort of its trout. Some are near BLM recreation sites Initially, eight acquisitions have high SOUTH FORK OFCAPTAIN JOHN CREEK kind in Idaho and are visited by lens ofthousands of prionty with BLM High value winter range forelk and mule people each year; others are isolated spots deer, bighorn sheep habitat, wetlands COUGAR BAY where elk orbighorn sheep exceed the BUCKWELL ISLAND and critical threatened chinook salmon Wildlife viewing, wetlands and recreation number of humans who visit. They Blackwell Island is located along the spawningand rearingstreams make the potential make the 167 acres available at include and canyon acreage on the Spokane River,just west ofCoeur South Fork ofCaptainJohn Creek an Cougar Bay a high acquisition consider- Salmon River, frontage along the giant d’Alene It’s ideally suited forexpanding acquisition priority. The 1,280 acres of ation The property is adjacent to Lake lakes of northern Idaho, and wetlands boat access and lessening overcrowding pnvaie land issurrounded by state and Coeur d’Alene and is sought by develop- important to waterfowl and non-game at other nearby facilities. The parcel also federal holdings, pan ofthe 125,000 acre ers. BLM. The Nature Conservancy and a species Resource vanety and benefits the Craig Mountain Wildlife Management coalition ofconcerned citizens are work- ing together to place the property in 3 THEIDAHOLANDSPROJECT' P R L PA R 1 N G i O k 1 Itfc 1 U I U R L public ownership and determine what three miles ofthe Salmon, shielding it the few remaining undeveloped coves 160 acresofland in Beauty Bay adjacent needs to be done to maintain the unique from development that would be incon- on the lake The property would comple- to an existing BLM recreation site. The values of this parcel sistent with BLM’s management objectives ment existing public recreation lands additional property would potentially for the river located both to the north and south of expand the recreation facility and protect FLYNN CREEK the parcel managed by Idaho Department bald eagle roosting sites, The proposal for Fl)mn Creek involves a MOWRY of Parks and Recreation scenic easement ofabout 450 acres of This acquisition on Lake Coeurd’Alene BLUE CREEK BAY #2 Salmon River frontage The easement could involve more than 1,300 acres that SWAN LAKE Blue Creek Bay is a popular recreation would protect the visual quality ofalmost includes 1,400 feet offrontage in one of A popular fishing spot, wetlands and spot near the east end ofLake Coeur valuable biggame and non-game habitat d’Alene, The proposed acquisition of up make the 37 acres at Swan Lake an to 300 acres isadjacent to a pending Resource variety and benefits the resources attractive acquisition The Swan Lake exchange area and would allow BLM to parcel, pan ofthe LowerCoeurd'Alene expand its recreation facilities, including provide to the public are two key criteha Riverchain lakes, is the only remaining boat launches Bald eagles roost and feed when BLM considers properties that could property with development potential that in the area dunng the winter become part of the Idaho Lands Project. is not in public ownership BEAUTY BAY This acquisition involves BLM, a pnvate landowner and The Nature Conserv'ancy It would expedite donation ofabout 4