One of the Wood River Valley's recreational gems may soon disappear. It's the public pond at Hulen Meadows. Last spring's floods, plus silting over 15 years, blocked the pond from its river source. Next summer the pond will start to transform into a mosquito-plagued swamp—unless something is done soon.
The pond is the result of a Department of Transportation 1989 dredging operation on BLM land to provide fill to widen Highway 75 north of the pond. Blaine County honchoed the project. A 1989 P&Z memo states, "The permit is being taken out in the name of Blaine County so the county will have control over the entire operation and the reclamation work."
The pond's installation was a win-win for everyone. DOT got fill. The county saved $100,000 in road repair fees. Downstream homeowners got flood protection. The county got Hulen Meadows pond, the valley's only significant body of safe multi-use recreational water. For the next 10 years, former county commissioner Len Harlig kept a line item in the c county's budget for anticipated maintenance of the pond. That item was removed in 2000 by newly elected commissioners. No maintenance has ever been performed.
A group of us are working to keep the pond alive. We represent nearly 700 petitioners throughout the valley, a fraction of those who use the pond. We are acting after nearly three years of watching the county fiddle while the pond fills. With the county's blessing last summer, we stepped in to help it address the issue. We worked for four months with the BLM, IDWR, IFG, and Army Corps to identify what's required for reclamation, costs, timeframe, etc. We identified potential cost-savings and operational efficiencies.
Then, in the fall, we met with the County Commission and asked it to step in and complete the job as the permit manager. At that point, we were told the county has no responsibility for the pond, is not required to follow through on previous administration commitments, and has never had money for reclamation. In short, "nice project but go away."
We believe that no one but the county is responsible for this project. If homes downstream, no longer buffered by the pond, are flooded this spring, commissioners will be on the hook. As it will be when the pond becomes a health and safety hazard, breeding West Nile virus.
Then there's the amenity value: preserving the valley's only enclosed public body of water that offers kayaking, wildlife habitat, sunbathing, fishing, dog play, native plants, flood and debris control, an adult and child swimming hole, photography, plein air artists, and great aquatic and bird habitat for all to enjoy.
The pond benefits the entire valley! Please help save it. Send your comments to Blaine County Commissioner Sarah Michael: smichael@co.blaine.id.us. For more information or to sign the petition, contact Jima Rice at 726-1848.
Jima Rice, Muffy Ritz, Betty Swanson, Dave Manookian, Kathy Noble
Blaine County
