Post by Logan on Feb 29, 2016 1:50:29 GMT -6
Southern Idaho lawmakers fail attempt to block conservation easement budget item
There was a major fight over the Fish and Game budget in the Legislature’s budget committee Friday after three Southern Idaho lawmakers tried to derail a $2 million line item.
The money will be used to purchase sportsman access to the Clagstone Meadows project in North Idaho, which is part of a conservation easement sought by Stimson Lumber, the owner of the property.
Stimson is giving up development rights to the big chunk of timberland – at one time approved for major development – in the center of the Panhandle, in favor of continuing to operate it as timber production land in perpetuity and allowing public access and hunting privileges. It’s Bonner County’s largest contiguous tract of private forest land, with 13,000 acres of timber, lakes and wetland.
The conservation easement plan includes $5.5 million in federal funds for a forest legacy project through the Idaho Department of Lands, $2 million in federal hunter access funds from the Fish and Game budget, $2 million from a public lands trust, and a $3.1 million contribution from Stimson.
Read more: www.spokesman.com/stories/2016/feb/28/eye-on-boise-budgets-being-set-piecemeal-this-year/
There was a major fight over the Fish and Game budget in the Legislature’s budget committee Friday after three Southern Idaho lawmakers tried to derail a $2 million line item.
The money will be used to purchase sportsman access to the Clagstone Meadows project in North Idaho, which is part of a conservation easement sought by Stimson Lumber, the owner of the property.
Stimson is giving up development rights to the big chunk of timberland – at one time approved for major development – in the center of the Panhandle, in favor of continuing to operate it as timber production land in perpetuity and allowing public access and hunting privileges. It’s Bonner County’s largest contiguous tract of private forest land, with 13,000 acres of timber, lakes and wetland.
The conservation easement plan includes $5.5 million in federal funds for a forest legacy project through the Idaho Department of Lands, $2 million in federal hunter access funds from the Fish and Game budget, $2 million from a public lands trust, and a $3.1 million contribution from Stimson.
Read more: www.spokesman.com/stories/2016/feb/28/eye-on-boise-budgets-being-set-piecemeal-this-year/