Boise Foothills Preservation

Boise, ID
March 31, 2007

On March 31st, I was privileged to participate in a ceremony at the Foothills Learning Center in Boise, commemorating the enactment of the Idaho Land Enhancement Act. This bill, which is now law, secured several thousand acres of open space in the Boise Foothills, so they will remain in their natural state and open to the public.

As Boise continues to grow, it becomes more important to preserve open spaces and recreational opportunities. This land exchange was a winning situation for everyone involved: the State of Idaho gained valuable timberlands in the North, which will benefit the endowment for education; the BLM and the Forest Service consolidated their holdings, which can now be managed more efficiently; and the people of Boise will be able to recreate in the Foothills for generations to come. I was truly pleased to play a part in this effort.

You can learn more about my views on land use in the West by reading my Western Agenda.