Field Reports: South Hill group seeks reopening of bluff access

PUBLIC LANDS – A public meeting is scheduled this week on a South Hill group’s proposal to reopen a city easement at 44th and Scott to provide neighborhood public access to the bluff trails below High Drive.

Private homeowners have gradually encroached and fenced off a 30-foot wide corridor that’s publicly owned, said Jim Wilson, president of the Friends of the Bluff.

Some homeowners in the neighborhood, especially those who would have to move back their fences to clear the right of way, are opposed to the public access, he said. Others support the idea of having walking or biking access to the popular bluff trails.

The area has little room for parking, which would help keep it a low-key neighborhood access, he said.

“It’s a mile in either direction from this neighborhood around the Rocket Market to get access to the trails,” Wilson said.

The City of Spokane will hold a meeting to hear public input on the proposal on Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria on the west side of Sacajawea Middle School (Lamonte Street entrance between 33rd and 31st).

“This is an uphill battle, but the public should never let private property owners take away public access to public land,” Wilson said. “The easement is on the maps. It belongs to everybody.”

Maps and photos showing the right-of-way and trails it would reach are on the group’s website, friendsofthebluff.org.

Restoring illegal road progressing on bluff

TRAILS – Spokane Parks officials and Avista have turned town a landowner request to put off restoring to a natural state the land illegally bulldozed for a road below the South Hill bluff. Work is continuing to fill in the grade and reseed.

Avista officials said they wanted to take advantage of an unusually wet spring that would make restoring native vegetation easier. They also wanted to reseed before noxious weeds to take over.

The road was bulldozed over property owned by the city as well as into a 30-acre inholding owned by Bracher Propties LLC of Ketchum, Idaho. Attorneys for the Brachers asked to have the work postponed until fall when larger trees could be replanted with higher success.

Contractors for the city and Avista said that with no irrigation available, planting a higher number of small trees would be more successful in replanting.

The road was built to aid in construction of a First Tee par-three golf course, which has been put on hold, city officials say.

Avista also wanted the road to enable upgrades to the powerlines through the area. Avista spokesman Bruce Howard said the power poles still need to be replaced starting this fall, but the company was exploring other options to access the lines, including helicopters.

At a public meeting on May 8, officials from Avista and City Parks were asked who gave the contractor the go-ahead to bulldoze the road. They declined to respond.

Trapper education required in Idaho

TRAPPING – Beginning on July 1, every trapper who purchased their first trapping license after June 30, 2011, will be required to attend and pass a mandatory trapper education course before they can purchase an Idaho trapping license.

Trappers certified through the Idaho voluntary trapper education course, or other equivalent courses from other states or countries, are exempt, but new trappers will be required to take the course starting in 2018, the state Fish and Game Department says.

Those who have taken only a wolf trapping education course are not exempt and must take the Idaho trapper education course.

Two courses will be offered in Coeur d’Alene next month, one on June 2 and one on June 3. Both courses will run 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Fish and Game Office, 2885 W. Kathleen Ave.

Register at any Fish and Game office or online, idfg.idaho.gov/hunt/education.

The $8 course covers basic trapping techniques and emphasizes safety and ethical trapper behavior, Fish and Game officials say.

Selecting safe and responsible trap set locations is discussed. Trappers have been criticized in recent years setting traps in area where pet dogs have been caught.

Other topics include furbearer behavior and management, trapping regulations, equipment selection and maintenance, avoiding non-target catches and pelt preparation.