Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wildlife Corridor topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee urges options while Fish & Game finalizes foothills corridor maps
Summary
Committee members were told Idaho Fish and Game is developing migratory corridor polygons but will not publish maps until later in the calendar year; members discussed interim steps including applicant‑funded independent studies, hiring outside consultants, or informal help from regional biologists.
City staff told the Conservation Advisory Committee that the City’s comprehensive plan includes habitat protection goals but does not contain usable migratory‑corridor mapping for the Eagle foothills. Staff reported that Idaho Fish and Game is creating polygon maps but is not releasing them to the public yet; the agency indicated they expect shareable tools by the end of the calendar year.
Members discussed short‑term options to avoid leaving development reviews blind to migration pathways. Suggestions included asking developers to commission independent wildlife studies and offering credit in permitting or fee relief to applicants who provide credible, peer‑reviewable studies; hiring or funding an outside contractor to compile local corridor data; or informally consulting a regional Fish and Game biologist for guidance.
Staff cautioned that Fish and Game would still need to review and approve any polygon or dataset produced externally before the city could adopt it. A committee member summarized the practical constraint: “Given no support of that, it sounds like this would be a next‑year initiative to be able to socialize that and convey it unless somebody … did an outside study and did it.”
The committee instructed staff to explore short‑term approaches and to present options — including estimated costs and likely timelines — once Fish and Game’s public data or a feasible interim plan becomes available.
