The House has voted 48-21 in favor of funding for a major conservation easement in North Idaho. The Clagstone Meadows conservation easement, requested by the landowner, Stimson Lumber, sells the development rights to a 13,000-acre property that’s the largest remaining contiguous tract of private forest land in Bonner County, allowing Stimson to continue to own it, harvest timber there and guarantee public access for hunting, fishing, hiking and the like in perpetuity. The property had previously been approved for development with 1,200 homes and two golf courses; Stimson gives that up through the easement.

Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, urged the House to reject the bill, which allocates $7.5 million in federal funds through the Idaho Department of Lands and the Idaho Department of Fish & Game for the easement. “My county just found out about this a week ago, they were not coordinated with,” Scott said. She said, “I just want to ask you: Will $7 million that we’re going to appropriate help any of your constituents in your districts, or will line the pockets of a single corporation who will be able to sell it for just about as much?”

Rep. Steve Miller, R-Fairfield, asked Scott a question, saying he heard in an earlier meeting that the project has been in the works for six years, that previous Bonner County commissioners were consulted on it, and that the new commissioners were briefed about it when they took office. “Briefed and coordinated, two separate words there,” Scott responded. “The Forest Legacy project calls for coordination, and my county commissioners were unaware of this until about a week and a half ago when they saw the bill come up on the floor.”

Rep. John Rusche, D-Lewiston, said, “I’m in favor of this bill. It seems like it’s a personal property right of this landowner to do what he wants. He could have donated it. … He could’ve sold it to somebody else. But it’s his property and his right to do what he wants.”

Bill sponsor Rep. Van Burtenshaw, R-Terreton, said, "“This is not a new program. The Forest Legacy program was established in 1978.” He said the budget was approved by the state Land Board in August for submission to the Legislature. HB 646 now moves to the Senate.

Here’s how the House vote broke down on the Clagstone easement funding:

Voting in favor: Reps. Anderson, Anderst, Bateman, Bedke, Bell, Beyeler, Burtenshaw, Chaney, Chew, Clow, Collins, Dayley, Erpelding, Gannon, Gibbs, Hartgen, Holtzclaw, Horman, Jordan, Kauffman, Kerby King, Kloc, Loertscher, Malek, McCrostie, McDonald, Miller, Monks, Moyle, Nye, Packer, Pence, Perry, Raybould, Romrell, Rubel, Rudolph, Rusche, Sims, Smith, Thompson, Troy, VanOrden, ,Wills, Wintrow, Wood, and Youngblood.

Voting against: Reps. Andrus, Batt, Boyle, Cheatham, Crane, DeMordaunt, Dixon, Gestrin, Harris, Hixon, Luker, McMillan, Mendive, Nate, Nielsen, Palmer, Redman, Scott, Shepherd, Trujillo, and VanderWoude.

---

---