Landscaper Rocked By Boulder-Sized Fine

The owner of a Boise commercial landscape rock company will pay a federal fine and restitution of nearly $3,000 for removing rock from public land without a permit, the Bureau of Land Management says.

The agency said Friday last week a federal magistrate judge ordered Clifford Guthrie, owner of Guthrie Landscape Rock, to pay $2,800 in restitution to the BLM, a $100 fine and $25 court costs in addition to one year on probation.

BLM Boise District Ranger Lynn Miracle said illegal removal of rock from public land has been increasing because of the building boom in Ada and Canyon counties.

“With so much building going on, the demand for landscape rock, especially large boulders, is high and that drives the price up,” Miracle said.

Private and commercial interests can obtain a $10 permit to legally remove rock from federal pits on BLM land. That allows removal of nearly two tons of rock.

The Boise district has identified about 20 public pits where people holding a permit can legally remove rock, sand and gravel.

“When people just drive onto the public land with heavy equipment to remove rock, they can cause a lot of resource damage,” Miracle said.