|
|
|
Boundary County family conserves open space
along area lake |
|
July 9, 2016 |
About 700 acres surrounding Bonner Lake, a
popular recreation area, will be permanently
protected through a Forest Legacy Program
conservation easement. Four generations of the
Wages family have owned the property surrounding
Bonner Lake since the early 1950s. These lands
contain forests, wet meadows and hay ground that
provide economic, recreational, wildlife and
scenic benefits to the community.
"My grandfather's original intent was to keep
the properties together as a working farm and
forest," said Adrian Wages. "Through this
agreement we were able to honor his wishes, and
keep the family lands undeveloped and whole for
our children and future generations."
Located between the Purcell and Selkirk
mountains, the undeveloped property and
surrounding areas provide exceptional habitat
for a diversity of wildlife including elk, deer,
grizzly and black bears, and contain a variety
of rare plants. The property provides a
picturesque backdrop from the northwest end of
the lake which is accessible to the public for
canoeing and year-round fishing.
In partnership with the Idaho Department of
Lands (IDL), The Nature Conservancy and the U.S.
Forest Service, the Wages family will be
protecting working forest and farmland, fish and
wildlife habitat, and public recreation
opportunities.
"We are thankful to the Wages family for having
the foresight and commitment to conserve this
beautiful and unique property," said Kennon
McClintock, watershed manager in Boundary County
for the Nature Conservancy. "In partnership with
IDL and the Forest Service, we are conserving a
place that provides public access, timber, and
habitat for fish and wildlife." The project
received letters of support from local
governments, the timber industry, and the
Kootenai Valley Resource Initiative.
Funding for the project came through the Forest
Service’s Forest Legacy Program, which seeks to
protect “working forests”—those that support the
natural resources economy, protect water
quality, provide habitat, opportunities for
recreation and other public benefits. The
conservation easement was purchased for a
discounted price, with the Wages family
generously contributing the difference as
donated land value.
“Forest Legacy projects are voluntary and
support local people and companies that want to
keep working forests working, benefiting the
local economy,” IDL Director Tom Schultz said.
“The counties benefit because they continue to
receive property tax from the landowner, and
people benefit with access to recreation.”
“The Forest Legacy Program is designed to
protect and maintain private working forest for
future generations. It is a privilege to be able
to help families like the Wages keep their
family forest as well as providing for wildlife,
clean water and recreational experiences,” said
Janet Valle, U.S. Forest Service. “It is truly a
conservation partnership.”
The Wages family will continue to own and manage
the property under a conservation easement that
guarantees it will remain a working forest and
will always provide significant environmental
and social benefits. The easement will be held
by the Idaho Department of Lands, which will be
responsible for long-term monitoring. With the
easement recently finalized, the Wages made a
lasting contribution to forest conservation for
Idaho.
In partnership with other willing landowners,
future Forest Legacy conservation easements will
protect working forests in Boundary and Bonner
counties within the McArthur Lake Wildlife
Corridor, Hall Mountain near the Canadian
border, and Clagstone Meadows near Careywood.
No taxpayer dollars are being used to fund
Forest Legacy. The money comes from the Land and
Water Conservation Fund, earnings from offshore
oil and gas leasing that is allocated
specifically for conservation purposes. Forest
Legacy funds are used for forest conservation
throughout the United States, and Idaho receives
project grants through a nationally competitive
process.
|
|
|
|
Questions or comments about this
article?
Click here to e-mail! |
|
|
|
|
