Tuesday
Jan192010
Potentially bad news for Idaho anglers?
Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 12:00AM 
Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter has proposed the elimination of general funding for the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) as part of the 2010 state budget. The elimination of IDPR potentially means the loss of public access to state parks and facilities all over Idaho, including the world-famous Harriman State Park in Fremont County.
Reader Comments (5)
Wow, that's a load of suck!
butch has his head plugged
damn you. damn you. damn you.
Even if you don't live in Idaho, please feel free to contact our governor/agribusiness lobbyist Butch Otter and tell him what a bad idea this is - http://gov.idaho.gov/WebRespond/contact_form.html
The Harriman/Railroad Ranch stretch of the Henry's Fork generates millions of $$ in tourism revenue annually, so your comments are important. Anyone who has been there can tell you it is a piece of heaven on earth.
His office will tell you they are simply merging IDPR into the Department of Lands, whose mandate is to "manage the state's real estate holdings for maximum potential revenue," which means (best case scenario) significant increases in "pay to play" fees or perhaps disposition. This is not a step in the right direction for a property that is rich in cultural history, contains a world class trout fishery and critical winter waterfowl habitat.
Otter's idea may trigger a stipulation from 1977 that park ownership be reverted back to the Harriman family in New York if the management agency (IDPR) responsible for park management is eliminated. The property would no longer belong to the citizens of Idaho.
To sign a petition asking Gov. Otter to keep the Parks and Recreation Department, go to - www.saveidahoparks.com
Thanks.
Message sent. Also, they did this same thing in Tennessee. They wanted to raise taxes and when we resisted, they closed all the parks FIRST before anything else as punishment.