Farragut’s Future Open House Puts Park’s Wildlife Area In The Public Eye

How much logging should take place? Are boat docks too crowded? What’s the best way to get rid of weeds?

Those are among the questions that will come up as the Idaho Fish and Game Department plans the future of its Farragut Wildlife Management Area.

The area is unusual, and more visible than most wildlife management areas, because it is adjacent to Farragut State Park.

Many people consider it part of the park, and expect it to be managed primarily for recreation.

For example, some critics felt the department was wrong to harvest timber there in recent years.

The department is taking a new approach to its wildlife management areas that makes public input more important, said Paul Hanna, regional wildlife habitat manager.

“These won’t be five-year plans, they’ll be long-range plans,” he said.

Fish and Game, in cooperation with the state Department of Parks and Recreation, will hold an open house Friday to explain the planning process to the public.

It’s scheduled from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Bayview Community Center.

“There will be displays, stations to go through, historical perspective, goals for the property - some issues that we, and Parks and Recreation, have identified,” Hanna said.

The state’s list of issues will also include appearance of the park, fire hazards, use of the shooting range, and access.

People will be asked if anything else should be on the list, Hanna said.

There will be another public meeting this summer.

The state Fish and Game Commission is expected to adopt the plan by the end of the year, Hanna said.

Fish and Game owns 1,412 acres at Farragut, near the southern end of Lake Pend Oreille.

Of that, 157 acres are in four parcels along the shore, including the public boat ramp and swimming area.

Management plans have yet to be written for four other wildlife management areas in the Panhandle: St. Maries, Coeur d’Alene River, MacArthur Lake and Pend Oreille.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: OPEN HOUSE Fish and Game, in cooperation with the state Department of Parks and Recreation, will hold an open house Friday to explain the planning process to the public. It’s scheduled from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Bayview Community Center.