Funds For Sawtooths

National forests

Idaho’s congressional delegation wants to use part of a $900 million federal fund to buy more land for preservation in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area.

The move comes after Congress’ approval of $800,000 in easements to stop development from interfering with scenic vistas of the Sawtooth Mountains.

Idaho has failed in recent years to win a spot for the mountainous area on the priority list of the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Idaho representatives have met with the Forest Service to develop a land acquisition plan for the recreation area and for two other locales: the Snake River corridor and the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness.

Work has begun on two subdivisions northwest of Stanley on private land where the Forest Service failed to complete acquisition of easements.

The $800,000 may used in those areas.

But 10 percent of the 756,000-acre recreation area is privately owned, and protecting it from development through easements or outright purchase would cost millions.

Easements are payments to property owners for not subdividing. The government has spent nearly $50 million to buy easements in the recreation area since it was created in 1972.