Trail committee talks expansion

BONNERS FERRY — A diverse group assembled at the Visitors Center Thursday to discuss a common passion -- expanding opportunities to enjoy the North Idaho outdoors. The new Boundary County Trails Committee, brought together by Boundary Economic Development Council Director Dennis Weed, intends to develop the area’s minimal pedestrian and cycle trails to create more safe places, separate from traffic, where people can get outside and enjoy themselves.

“Right now, there has been very limited development,” Weed told committee members.

Two areas the group discussed as potential first projects were the route from town to the Kootenai Wildlife Refuge and the bowl on the north hill where the old and new highway diverge.

Dianna Ellis, Fish and Wildlife Service employee and manager of the refuge, told the group that the formation of the Trails Committee came at an opportune time. Her facility recently received a grant from the Federal Lands Access Program to develop the former. The FLAP project is so new, Ellis said, that they have not yet developed a design.

“It’s still in its very infant stages,” she said.

“Would they like to hear from us as a committee?” Weed asked her.

“Yes,” she said, explaining that Fish and Wildlife plans to hold public meetings to get the community’s input on the project design. So far, she has met with representatives from the county Road and Bridge department, the Army Corps of Engineers and also with private citizens who own land along the proposed trail.

Additionally, the FLAP grant could cover any land or easement acquisitions that may be necessary to make the trail complete, Ellis said.

Pat Hart of the U.S. Forest Service, also a committee member, noted that her organization is working on a Pacific Northwest Trail plan for North Idaho. She suggested that any projects the Boundary Trails Committee adopts should focus on scenic value and enjoyment. The project should be a trail that people will want to return to again and again. Ideally, new trails should connect to existing trails, either on Forest Service lands or other public use areas, she said.

The second project the Trails Committee discussed, the bowl area north of Bonners Ferry, is land owned by the Idaho Transportation Department. Committee member Keith Johnson suggested creating mountain bike and/or cross country trails within the space the old highway used to span.

“We should start looking into grant money to do that,” Weed said.

First, though, Lisa Ailport, city planner for Bonners Ferry, suggested the group formalize its position by creating a charter and seeking official standing from the city council.

“By getting recognition as a committee, we could be eligible for private funding, like the Bonner County Trail Mix Committee did.”

Ailport suggested asking a member of Trail Mix to speak to the Boundary Trails Committee about different aspects of drafting their own trails plan.

“Also look at what other entities are doing and see if there’s a way you could tie into that,” added Hart.

Before adjourning, the committee members agreed that they would reconvene in a month’s time. Meanwhile, members would identify areas where they would like to see recreational trails.