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SAWTOOTH NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
The Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA) comprises 756,000 acres of public and private land in central Idaho. The size of Rhode Island, the SNRA contains 50 snowcapped peaks exceeding 10,000 feet, 500 alpine lakes, lush meadows, countless species of wildlife, and remnants of our pioneer heritage.
Congress sought to protect this magnificent country from intense or inappropriate development by creating the SNRA in 1972. The U.S. Forest Service was directed to manage the area in a way that would restrict development, while simultaneously respecting private property rights and allowing for varied uses of the land.
Good progress was made initially. Between 1972 and 1986, the Forest Service preserved the natural, historical and recreational qualities of the SNRA, largely by acquiring conservation easements on approximately 90 percent of the 25,000 acres of private property in the area.
Between 1987 and 1996, federal funds to purchase conservation easements were not made available to the Forest Service managers of the SNRA, and some owners of the 2,500 acres of unprotected private land began to subdivide their properties.
The SNRA also faced another problem. In recent years, local Forest Service managers weren't receiving enough federal money to properly maintain the SNRA's recreational facilities and services. As a result, trails, campsites and roads were in disrepair, environmental education programs had been curtailed, and other visitor services had been reduced.
It was against this backdrop of neglect that the Sawtooth Society was formed.
WHAT WE DO
There's more to be done in protection of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA), and you can help us achieve some ambitious objectives:
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Encouraging the Administration, Congress and Forest Service to make the SNRA a high priority.
Facilitating the acquisition of conservation easements on the most vulnerable-to-development properties in the SNRA.
Funding recreational facilities and services in the SNRA. Click here to view a description of these projects, or download here.
Promoting constructive working relationships between all who live, work and play in the SNRA.
Supporting public and private efforts to mitigate the mountain pine beetle infestation and reduce the threat of wildfires.
Dealing with other issues of bedrock importance to the area including a resolution to the mining of a highly visible state-owned lands within the SNRA.
Developing and implementing a long-term vision for the SNRA, to benefit of those who live, work and recreate there.
Facilitating the acquisition of conservation easements on the most vulnerable-to-development properties in the SNRA.
Funding recreational facilities and services in the SNRA. Click here to view a description of these projects, or download here.
Promoting constructive working relationships between all who live, work and play in the SNRA.
Supporting public and private efforts to mitigate the mountain pine beetle infestation and reduce the threat of wildfires.
Dealing with other issues of bedrock importance to the area including a resolution to the mining of a highly visible state-owned lands within the SNRA.
Developing and implementing a long-term vision for the SNRA, to benefit of those who live, work and recreate there.
Photo by: Kevin Syms
Photo by: Steve Bly www.blyphoto.com
Photo by: Scott O' Malley www.scottomalley.com
Photo by: Kevin Syms
