Idaho Panhandle Public Lands Initiative reaches landmark agreement

By Brad Smith
Reader Contributor

The strong public backlash to congressional proposals to sell public lands last year demonstrated that Idahoans of many backgrounds cherish our national forests and rangelands. Whether for recreation, wildlife, clean water, open space or simply their beauty, these lands are central to our quality of life. Mountain vistas, free-flowing rivers, campgrounds, trails and wild places drew many of us to Idaho, and they’re among the reasons we choose to stay.

I prefer to experience public lands through hiking, camping, fly fishing and skiing. Others prefer mountain biking, off-road vehicles or snowmobiling. I don’t hunt, but I know many Idahoans who treasure the opportunity to do so. The ways people value public lands are as diverse as the people who use them.

That diversity, however, can also create conflict over how these lands should be managed. I’ve worked in conservation for more than 20 years, and throughout my career I’ve witnessed — and sometimes been part of — those disagreements.

When the U.S. Forest Service revised the Idaho Panhandle National Forests Land Management Plan, which was finalized in 2015, I found myself on opposite sides of several issues with other recreation groups. As a representative of the Idaho Conservation League, I opposed removing parts of the Upper Pack River from the Forest Service’s proposed wilderness boundary to provide snowmobile access.

Conservation groups were also at odds with many mountain bikers over Long Canyon and the Upper Priest River. For decades, ICL worked to prevent road construction in Long Canyon and neighboring Parker Creek — the last remaining roadless watersheds on the U.S. side of the Selkirk Mountains. Because wilderness designation generally prohibits mountain biking, many riders opposed the protections we sought.

Ultimately, the Forest Service had to decide among competing interests. Many people — including me — were dissatisfied with the outcome. It also became clear that unless those competing interests came together to craft their own vision, we would simply repeat the same debates every time the Land Management Plan is revised.

That realization led to the creation of the Idaho Panhandle Public Lands Initiative (IPPLI) in April 2024. The goal of the initiative is straightforward: bring together conservationists, recreation groups, hunters, timber interests, local governments and others to see whether we can develop a shared proposal for federal legislation affecting public lands in Bonner and Boundary counties.

The early meetings weren’t easy. Participants arrived with deeply held views and discussions were often contentious. Some people chose to leave the process altogether.

Over time, however, something began to change. Representatives of snowmobiling, off-road vehicle, mountain biking, conservation and hunting interests became more willing to openly discuss their priorities while also looking for ways to accommodate the interests of others. Participants have now spent countless hours studying maps, exploring alternatives and engaging in respectful, good-faith negotiations.

In May, those efforts resulted in a significant milestone. IPPLI reached agreement on a proposal that would designate approximately 39,600 acres of new wilderness in the Selkirk Crest, add approximately 16,900 acres to the Salmo-Priest Wilderness, establish a 32,220-acre National Recreation Area in the Upper Pack River that protects outstanding backcountry landscapes while allowing mountain biking and winter snowmobile use, designate approximately 20 miles of the Upper Priest River as a Wild and Scenic River, and create new recreational access and trail opportunities.

Some readers may notice that the proposal does not include the Scotchman Peaks. Discussions about that landscape are continuing, and there is still potential for the Scotchman Peaks — or other provisions — to be added in the future if agreement can be reached.

Turning this vision into reality will ultimately require an act of Congress. That will not be easy. But if successful, it would provide long-term certainty for public land users and managers alike. Rather than revisiting the same conflicts every time the Land Management Plan is revised, Congress could establish a durable, permanent framework that reflects years of community dialogue and compromise.

The next phase of IPPLI’s work is to engage communities throughout Bonner and Boundary counties, build broader public support and encourage Idaho’s congressional delegation to sponsor legislation. If you’d like to learn more about the proposal, view the maps or sign a petition in support of the initiative, visit the Idaho Panhandle Public Lands Initiative website at idahopanhandlepubliclandsinitiative.org.

Brad Smith is interim executive director of the Idaho Conservation League.