Commission Approves Purchase of Wildlife Habitat Tracts

Idaho Fish and Game Commission Thursday, November 10, authorized the Fish and Game Department to pursue efforts to acquire 705 acres of critical low-elevation mule deer, pronghorn and elk winter habitat adjacent to the Boise River Wildlife Management Area and Hammer Flat. The property was previously platted for a subdivision of about 1,350 homes, known as "the Cliffs" in 2007, although no improvements have been built. Idaho Fish and Game's Boise River 30,000-acre wildlife management area borders this property to the north and east. This property was previously presented to the commission in March of 2010. Acquisition cost is $4,230,000 of Bonneville Power Administration wildlife mitigation funds. Payment in Lieu of Taxes is estimated at $2,000 annually. Annual operating costs, also to be paid from BPA mitigation funds, are estimated at $50,000. The commission also authorized Fish and Game to pursue the purchase of 138 acres of low-elevation mule deer winter habitat, known as the Sandy Point-Krueger Tract, adjacent to Boise River WMA and Hammer Flat. The property also provides fawning habitat for pronghorn. The property was platted into about 30 lots in the 1980s, although no homes have been built. Idaho Fish and Game purchased 11 of the lots, about 166 acres, in 1999 . Idaho Fish and Game's Boise River 30,000-acre wildlife management area borders this property to the north, west and east. Acquisition cost is $275,000 of BPA mitigation funds. PILT is estimated at $500 annually and annual operating costs are estimated at $7,500.