F&G still wants Black Rock Ranch

Idaho officials have a new plan for buying a 1,000-acre former horse ranch along the Coeur d’Alene River.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game plans to buy Black Lake Ranch for $2.6 million from a private landowner, Minnaloosa Land Co. The ranch east of Harrison will be used for recreation, wildlife habitat and wetlands restoration, state officials said.

Black Lake Ranch is known for its miles of white vinyl pasture fencing, visible to cyclists along the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes.

To raise money for the purchase, Fish and Game would sell 1,400 acres of agency-owned timberland near St. Maries to the state Department of Lands. That deal, valued at $4.6 million, hasn’t been finalized. After the sale, the timberland would remain open to the public under Department of Lands management/ Becky Kramer , SR. More here .