Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Inter-Mountain Western States Coordinator
In early December, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) released its decision to proceed with the “No Action Alternative” on the proposed Lucky Peak Lake View Trail, located outside of Boise, Idaho in critical big game wintering habitat. The decision is a significant win for conservation as sportsmen and women have worked diligently to conserve this critical habitat for Idaho’s wildlife.
As previously reported, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation helped organize a national effort by conservation organizations and the outdoor sporting community in opposition of the proposed trail and submitted a comment letter urging the USACE to proceed with a “No Action” decision.
Had the Lucky Peak Lake View Trail been approved, it would have dissected the Boise River Wildlife Management Area (BRWMA), a critically important wintering habitat area for 5,000 – 7,000 mule deer and approximately 1,200 elk. The BRWMA also supports populations of wild turkey; upland game birds including chukar, gray partridge, California quail, dusky grouse, ruffed grouse, and mourning doves; and a diversity of other wildlife species.
In addition to the stated concerns of the outdoor sporting community, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game expressed serious concerns about the impact that the proposed trail would have to wintering big game, in addition to habitat fragmentation, wildlife disturbance, invasive plant species introduction, erosion, increased fire danger, and hunting and fishing activities.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation would like to thank all of the individuals and organizations that took the time to engage on this important issue. The “No Action Alternative” decision would not have been possible without the unified voice of sportsmen and women.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
