Snake River Canyons Park Board

Open Meeting Minutes

Thursday, March 13, 2025

Blue Lakes Country Club, Jerome, Idaho

Attending Board Members: Chairman Bill Bridges, Mark Reyes, Brenda Weekes, Stephen Haag, John Weston, Greg Moore, and Becky Dean. Not present: Steve Paulson and Jeff Pierson.

Guests: Jerome Commissioner Art Watkins, Aaron Utz with Idaho Power, Lisa Cresswell, Matt Courtney and Eddie Sanchez, BLM, Larry Hall and Rebecca Wildman taking minutes.

Bill called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m. with a quorum present.

Minutes: There was discussion about changes that were requested to be made.  Motion made that minutes be accepted as originally presented.  Seconded and carried with one dissenting vote.

Treasurers Report: Account balance is $12,677.36 with county account balance $52,358.92 and Yingst Grade account after culvert improvement expenses is $14,399.50. Shoshone Falls overlook’s account had an initial $200K with $100k from each Idaho Power and Jerome County’s match. That account now has $69,688. Once construction begins, and forecast to occur in 2026, Idaho Power will contribute an additional $250k. Questioned if Jerome County was planning to match this additional $250k with Board members having different recollections if this is the case. Next step is meeting to discuss how to achieve the rest of the project’s funding and Bill clarified the Park will need to raise an additional $350K-$400K.

RV Park: Average of five campers per night now. The 5-mph sign has blown over and is now missing. Greg suggested also replacing the handmade sign in the kiosk. Becky offered to pick up trash.

Blue Lakes Grade Unauthorized Excavation: Bill reported, and Matt concurred that property on adjoining Allen estate and BLM has been unlawfully excavated and fencing cut for single and two-track off-roading use. Melinda Bunn from Allen’s has been running cattle on their land and is concerned. Matt said law enforcement is aware and a case has been opened. Matt said BLM is also aware of pink painted vandalized areas.

Website: Jerome county has hired and wants to hire another person for ITD. No concerns on SRCP website for now.

Yingst Grade: Repairs to culvert are completed with a new pipe 20-30’ in width. All work was done on Idaho Fish & Game property. Concern to not channel the spring water across the road and adding appropriate plants to avoid weeds and erosion. Suggested Steve Paulson assess.

Shooting Range: John reported there is no activity yet and Lisa said the BLM should begin work this Spring. John has enough material to build archery range and for two shooting benches and installation can begin once BLM approval is complete. Backstops will be made out of three bails strapped on a pallet, movable to any distance, and basalt rock placed behind to avoid being pushed down.

Shoshone Falls Overlook: Larry reported on activity since last month’s approval of the plan. The steering committee of four plus Steven Anderson, the engineer for Civil Science met with Jerome County Commissioners who approved plan. Plan was then sent to BLM and today they responded in writing with conditional approval. Matt Courtney explained the conditions the BLM would like to see addressed in more detail and summarized:

• Road entering the overlook area will need a cattleguard and possibly fencing to keep cattle out;
• confirmation that there is agreement on all fronts;
• with more people visiting there needs to be more spraying to combat invasive noxious weeds and could be done with Jerome County’s spraying;
• raptor survey will be completed this spring noting historically there are no bird nests in the area. Construction would need to occur after August 15.
• BLM would like to see the concessions and bathrooms located at the parking area and not at the canyon rim; and
• would like the path to the rim wide enough to accommodate an emergency vehicle.

Once BLM receives SRCP’s response that these conditions will be met, then approval is a go. Matt will send the written conditional approval to the Board. Matt added that all should be aware of Idaho Power’s plans for more transition lines and a substation. Bill clarified the power lines are east of the overlook and that the road will travel under them.

Larry and several members of the SRCP Board met with Jerome County Planning and Zoning Building Department. Building Department only concerns were to review the plan with the Jerome County Highway District and check with the rural fire departments to confirm turnarounds. The permit is for road issues and concrete pads for overlook, i.e. actual structures. Concessions and bathrooms are temporary structures. Suggested we ask Commissioners for permit costs to be waived. Larry publicly thanked the BLM for a quick response and for the ability to hold these meetings with the county all within the past month.

Larry indicated the financial plan is laid out in the application that was submitted previously with no main changes. He suggested putting together a presentation to businesses, larger corporations in the area, etc. and create written and video presentations, incorporate maps, Geotech survey video. The naming credit should go to Idaho Power.

Parking areas may need to be addressed considering a larger number of truck and trailers will come. Greg suggested including three pullouts, addressing needs of vehicles 35’ or longer, and Larry will ask Civil Science to provide example options with possibly pull-throughs.

IDL Trail from Bridge to Shoshone Falls: Brenda reported her conversation with Randall at IDL who said everything at IDL is at a standstill with federal government, state and legislative effects on their programs. Greg suggested speaking to County Commissioners about the trail and garnering support from the CSI Board of Trustees.

Grants: The Park is wanting funding for tent camping, trails, the Shoshone Falls Overlook, 700 east parking lot and corrals, and rock crawling park. Greg asked if rock crawling park received BLM approval yet and BLM clarified is has not started on this project yet with discussion about priority list including Yingst Grade now being finalized. Bill will follow-up with BLM on priority list.

CSI Property: Steve Haag reported that SRCP presented to the CSI Board of Trustees a map showing a trail going through CSI’s property. CSI approved for continued use of this existing trail. Steve Haag added that the Idaho State 4×4 Association has new leadership and that they have grants available; Steve will pursue. Steve added that the state has three 4×4 clubs, including the Southern Idaho Off Road Association and that our region’s club has a committee who works with the Park and it will reconvene this Spring.

Corral Building: Sue sent notice to Brenda that the Backcountry Horsemen plan to start working in April to create a fourth corral. Discussion about corral use, cleanup and waste.  

Disc Golf Course: Bill will purchase the new Flags for the disc golf course and will inquire with Charlie Howell and Steve Paulson about cutting grass there.

Next meeting April 10^th.

With no further business the meeting was adjourned at 12:12 p.m.

                                                                        Open Meeting Minutes

                                                                            February 13, 2025

                                                          Blue Lakes Country Club, Jerome, Idaho

Attending Board Members: Greg Moore, Steve Haag, John Weston, Becky Dean, Bill Bridges via phone, Brenda Weeks, Jeff Pierson, Mark Reyes

Guests: Larry Hall, Mark Barnes, David Freiberg, Aaron Utz, Hugo Sanchez, Matt Courtney BLM, Birk Roseman, BLM, Lisa Crosswell, Shoshone BLM, Mary Ellis, BLM, Art Watkins, County Commissioner

Greg Moore, Vice Chair, called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m. with a quorum present and introduction.

Approval of Minutes of January 9, 2025 Board Meeting:  Reviewed without corrections. Motion to approve from Steve Haag , second fromJohn Weston. Motion carries.

Additions to Agenda – action item with Motion and Order to Amend Agenda: none requested

Member and Guest introductions:

Project Reports:

1.  Volunteer Program: Cache Peak Chapter of the Back Country Horsemen was presented with the 2024 SRCP Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award by Brenda Weeks and Becky Dean at their meeting in Burley. The presentation was well received with much enthusiasm about the future development of trails in the park. A photo of the presentation will be published in the club’s newsletter.

•  Treasurers Report: First Federal account $53,123.69, 501C3 $12,677.36

•  RV Park: Park use is very slow with 1-3 campers per night

•  Webpage for SRCP: Park is receiving regular updates and seems to be operating well

•  Yingst Grade ROW– We discussed effort to replace earlier right of way from 2000. Per Brenda Weeks we have submitted all the paperwork for the request for a new ROW. Mary Ellis with BLM had additional questions about the use of logs for erosion control.Brenda commented that we don’t need to use the smaller culvert.  The logs will be used instead. BLM advised that should we wish to use log erosion control; it needs to be submitted in the plan.

• Shooting Range – John Weston: he visited Malad and Murtaugh gun ranges.  He compared each with maintenance and preparation and they were at each end of the spectrum.  Birk with BLM is getting clearance from specialists. They will clear our project for a variety of resources to be able to develop late summer or fall.  Jerome County will have access to heavy equipment.

• Shoshone Falls Overlook – Larry Hall.  At the last meeting to discuss this, the Board was not ready to approve until they could review the visual aspect and layout.  Larry Hall presented a draft of the Project Development Request for the Shoshone Falls Overlook Project. Part of the request included Exhibits showing the location of the project, a design of the Overlook parking area and the Overlook platform area and IDL right-of-way easement. Specific focus was directed to a photo image that emulated a naked eye view of the Overlook area with images shown to see the type of views that there would be including cars, RVs, Gift Shop, Portable Toilets and rock formations. Boulders will camouflage the site, wood wrapping on surfaces. The visual overlays of the project components show that most aspects of the project will be hidden from view except for taller RV’s. David Frieberg said he was ok with the visuals.  The updated cost is now complete. The cost of the project is now firm at $621,000 with $67,000 having been paid for surveys, etc. Idaho Power to contribute $250,000. We will need approximately $300,000 to completely fund the project. Larry said he is optimistic about raising the necessary funds through grants and donations. The board voted unanimously to approve the project.  It will go to the County Commissioners for approval before being submitted to BLM.  

Meeting was adjourned at 11:30 am due to the inclement weather.

Next meeting March 13, 2025 11 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Blue Lakes Country Club (location may change if inclement weather is expected.)

Executive Sessions may be held pursuant to the Idaho Code 74-206(1) as needed during time such sessions are called.

Note:  Any person needing special accommodations to participate in the meeting should contact the committee chairman at 208-293-2426  48 hours prior to the meeting.