The 12.5-acre Howard Preserve, Bellevue's largest public open space, has been getting trashed lately.
Lying just west of town, the preserve was established in 2004 to protect a portion of the natural floodplain ecosystem along the Big Wood River and keep it accessible to residents.
On Tuesday night, No. 45 Irrigation District spokesperson Pepin Corso-Harris alerted the council to vandalism and other violations at the north end of the preserve, particularly in the District 45 irrigation canal that runs through it. The council was discussing a draft master plan for the preserve that addresses signs, rights of way, weed control and public access.
The preserve is managed jointly by Bellevue, the District 45 Canal Co., the Wood River Land Trust and the Friends of the Howard Preserve volunteers. Built in 1915, the canal supplies water to more than 100 properties south of Bellevue.
Corso-Harris said people have thrown logs, benches and rocks into the canal. She showed the council photographs of "no drinking" signs that have been torn down, as well as large rocks that had been thrown into the canal.
"The canal company is liable [to] the state of Idaho if it is not kept in good condition," Corso-Harris said. "I would like to see the Friends of the Howard Preserve and the city of Bellevue commit more time to maintaining the preserve."
Friends of the Howard Preserve is a volunteer group dedicated to protecting the preserve and keeping it accessible, but has no authority to enforce laws.
Marshal Ron Taylor said his busy officers cannot deter everyone from breaking laws at the preserve.
"We are down one officer," he said. "The economy is changing. People are breaking into cars and doing things in this town that they didn't do before."
Bellevue resident Tom Perry, who recently decided to run for City Council, offered a third alternative—citizen patrols.
"Why not hire some old geezer like me, put a uniform on him and have him keep an eye on things down there? It would be a lot cheaper than a police officer."
The council seemed interested in Perry's idea.
The council will continue discussion on the Howard Preserve master plan later this fall.
Tony Evans: tevans@mtexpress.com
