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Sportsmen and women gain major access from three
land deals |
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May 9, 23017 |
By Roger Phillips
IDFG Public Information Specialist
Idaho hunters and anglers gained permanent
access to 12,600 acres of land in north Idaho
for a net cost of about $300,000, thanks to
three different land deals recently completed by
Idaho Fish and Game.
Here’s what they entailed:
• Fish and Game sold 1,400 acres of timberland from its St. Maries
Wildlife Management Area to Idaho Department of
Lands for $4.32 million. The land is adjacent to
existing state-owned timberland and managed for
timber production, but will remain open to the
public.
• Fish and Game used that money to buy a private 1,100-acre parcel for
$2.6 million near Black Lake along the Coeur
d’Alene River. The 1,100 acres will connect two
parcels currently owned by Fish and Game and
adds 5 miles of river frontage and public access
in the Coeur d’Alene River Wildlife Management
Area.
• Fish and Game also contributed $2 million to pay for a multi-party
Forest Legacy Conservation Easement that
conserves 13,169 acres of commercial timberland
owned by Stimson Lumber Company for continued
timber management and wildlife habitat while
opening 10,113 acres for public access. The
property known as “Clagstone Meadows” is located
in south Bonner County, just off U.S. 95 between
Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint.
Black Lake
The Black Lake property will add to the existing
Coeur d'Alene Wildlife Management Area and
provide new public access to the area. Last
year, Fish and Game also acquired an additional
385 acres of wetlands and riparian habitats to
WMA connecting the Black Rock Slough wetland
complex near Bull Run Lake.
“With those purchases, we’ve got linkages across
the whole Coeur d’Alene River from the mouth to
Rose Lake for wildlife and sportsmen, and that
was our goal,” F&G habitat/lands manager James “JJ”
Teare said.
All total, the WMA now encompasses 20 miles of
river corridor and 9,000 acres of land, much of
it wetlands and riparian areas with some
adjacent timber and shrub lands The new lands
will provide lots of additional public access to
the area, which has the popular Trail of the
Coeur d’Alenes biking/hiking trail running
through its entirety, but otherwise limited
access except by watercraft.
“We want people to go out and enjoy the area,”
Teare said. “It’s a very scenic and big
recreation area with a tremendous amount of
wildlife and other natural resources.”
The Black Lake property is currently pasture
land with long lengths of vinyl fencing. One of
the first projects will be removing fencing from
the property, and then establishing public
parking areas and signs.
“We will get those done this summer,” Teare
said.
There’s a long list of other projects planned,
including habitat restoration and environmental
cleanup from past mining operations upstream in
the Silver Valley.
“We’re really excited about all the new
properties and public access,” Teare said.
“There’s going to be a ton of work, but it’s
work we love to do.”
Clagstone Meadows
The public access to Clagstone Meadows is
scheduled to open on Aug. 1. By then, there will
be parking areas built and signage providing
maps and outlining the access conditions of the
property.
Teare said people can expect walk-in access via
the parking areas and no camping. People will
also have to register at entry points. User
registration will be important for helping Fish
and Game and Stimson managers ensure public use
provided does not interfere with timber
management or habitat protections.
Because the property remains in private
ownership, and it’s commercial timberland, Teare
said visitors can expect to see company vehicles
on the property for logging and other
timber-management projects. However, Stimson
employees are not allowed to recreate while
working or driving company vehicles.
This new public access will open up more than
10,000 acres to year round non-motorized
recreation and public hunting. Clagstone Meadows
has forests, fields, wetlands, ponds, and
provides habitat for elk, deer, black bear,
moose, mountain lion and bobcat and more. It's
prime white-tailed deer habitat, Teare said.
Teare pointed out that sportsmen and women are
getting a lot for their money because the
conservation easement and access is permanent,
even if the land is sold.
“This is public access, continued wildlife
habitat and timber management of the property is
forever,” he said.
St. Maries property
Although Fish and Game sold the St. Maries
property to Idaho Department of Lands, it will
remain open to the public for hunting and other
recreation, according to IDL public information
officer Emily Callihan.
“There may be temporary closures for public
safety reasons if timber harvesting operations
are active, but generally, the lands will be
open for access,” she said. |
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