A land-swap agreement between the Wood River Land Trust and Idaho Department of Lands will permanently preserve 80 acres including a half-mile of riverfront property along the Big Wood River in western Hailey.
"This is absolutely the biggest thing we've ever done," said Land Trust Executive Direct Scott Boettger. "I can't think of a more significant property, both for wild and recreational purposes, in the city of Hailey. This will be one of our landmark preserves."
The 80-acre parcel, which is owned by the state and encompasses the northeast face of Della Mountain before engulfing the river south of Lion's Park, would be exchanged for a 4.58-acre lot in the Indian Creek subdivision northeast of Hailey.
Boettger said he's been eyeing the Della Mountain property, which is wedged between two city parks and could be developed by the state, for about 10 years.
"Everybody looks at it and thinks it's protected, but the state has a mandate to generate revenue," Boettger said. "We've wanted to make sure it doesn't turn into something else."
In February 2006 the state Board of Land Commissioners conceptually approved a separate exchange: 2.17 acres owned by the Wood River Land Trust adjacent to the state's 80-acre parcel on the east side of the Big Wood River.
But that all changed after massive runoff on the Big Wood River flooded portions of the 2.17-acre parcel in May 2006.
"Based on concerns voiced by (Department of Lands) staff regarding flooding and its impact to the development potential of the private lot, the (Land Trust) has agreed to offer a different private residential lot for acquisition by the state," a Department of Lands consent agenda from Dec. 12, 2006, states. "Department staff believes this lot is a superior lot to the one originally proposed for (Department of Lands) to acquire in this exchange."
Boettger said he was equally concerned about the flooding on the 2.17-acre lot.
"We didn't necessarily want to trade land that would be developed (in the floodplain)," he said.
The northeast slope of Della is very steep, rocky and prone to avalanches and is therefore not leased to any grazers. Wildlife, however, frequent the area.
"We've been nothing but pleased working with the current group of (Department of Lands) people," Boettger said.
A land exchange between the Wood River Land Trust and the Idaho Department of Lands will permanently protect 80 acres of riparian and hillside land west of Hailey near Della Mountain. The exchange would cover these wetlands near the end of Croy Creek.
Photographs courtesy of Wood River Land Trust
