Growth, over-use, degraded water quality, and loss of access to public lands are among the top issues facing recreation in Valley County, according to a draft strategic recreation plan.
The plan, developed by the Valley County Parks and Recreation Advisory Council, charts strategies the county can implement over the next five years to preserve and improve recreation.
A public comment period on the plan will be open through March 31, Valley County Recreation Planner Dave Bingaman said.
The Valley County Recreation Department would be tasked with implementing the plan if adopted by the county commissioners.
“The purpose of this plan is to provide a path forward for recreation in Valley County that will not harm but rather enhance the community’s residents as well as future generations,” the county commissioners wrote in the plan’s introduction.
Five focus areas identified by the plan would combat the biggest challenges facing recreation, which also include a need for indoor recreation space and a lack of funding for maintenance and improvements.
Each focus area sets goals and strategies for the parks and recreation advisory council to pursue, including developing partnerships, cost-sharing policies, and improved awareness of recreation needs and opportunities.
Public land preservation
One of the plan’s goals is to develop permanent solutions for preserving state and federal lands, which account for more than 89% of Valley County.
Potential solutions could include recreation leases, conservation easements, and trading state endowment lands to the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation or the U.S. Forest Service, according to the plan.
The plan advised the county to develop a prioritized list of areas that are at risk of losing public access, as well as a list of potential private land purchases that could benefit recreation access.
Upgrades and maintenance
The county should also develop a maintenance schedule for existing recreation areas and monitor usage to inform plans for improved infrastructure in high-use areas, the plan said.
All recreation decisions, including those related to access and infrastructure improvements, should be made with water quality in mind, per the plan.
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Funding
Several strategies for making recreation financially stable are listed in the plan, including the creation of a recreation taxing district.
The district would take in the northern half of Valley County and could collect taxes from property owners to fund recreation work.
Another idea is for retail shops to charge a recreation tax.
User fees could also be implemented at county recreation sites to fund improvements and maintenance, the plan said.
Concessionaire programs could also be created to raise money for recreation projects. The Cabarton take-out on the North Fork Payette River was one potential location for a concessionaire suggested by the plan.
