Snake River Canyons Park Board
Open Meeting Minutes
Thursday, April 10, 2025
Blue Lakes Country Club, Jerome, Idaho
Attending Board Members: Chairman Bill Bridges, Mark Reyes, Steve Paulson, Brenda Weekes, John Weston, Greg Moore, and Becky Dean. Not present: Stephen Haag and Jeff Pierson.
Guests: Lisa Cresswell, Matt Courtney and Shane Wilson with the BLM, Jim Williams with Southern Idaho Off Road, Larry Hall for the Overlook project, guest Mark Barnes and Rebecca Wildman taking minutes.
Bill called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m. with a quorum present.
Minutes: Brenda asked for amendments to change the culvert to 20-30’ length not width, and construction for the overlook to not start until after August 1, not August 15. Becky motioned to approve the minutes with amendments, Greg seconded, motion carried.
Treasurers Report: Account balance is $12,677.36 with county account balance $55k. Bill informed that two “no shooting” signs were replaced at a cost of $800. Several options to purchase signs were suggested.
RV Park: The Backcountry Horsemen will add to existing corrals. A corral pole will need to be replaced. As many as 18 camper units occupied so far this month with only 13 available spaces. The corral area can accommodate camper overflow.
Weed Abatement: Steve Paulson informed he has applied Behr Ground (pre/post emergent) to all parking lots and the Disk Golf Course, the RV park, edges, island, bathrooms areas, etc. Steve said it is the most extensive application ever done for the park. He will check back in on budget and to plan for future applications. The county is paying for the chemical and Steve will keep any excess for next year. Weed spraying in the next few weeks for noxious weed season. Seed to repair culvert work on Yingst grade wouldn’t go in until fall and Steve got numbers to Bill for budgeting.
Website and Brochure: Brenda would like the website to include projects that are in the works. Bill and others agreed this was a good idea. Brenda handed out an overview of projects and asked the Board to help complete and will also send in email. Locations for brochure placement were discussed, including the TF Visitor Center, KOA, and Off Roaders. Suggested it might include a QR Code and smaller map with more locations, etc. Noted change on brochure to website instead of Facebook page. Mark volunteered to keep the Facebook page refreshed and Bill to provide him the login information.
Shooting Range: John Weston shared a handout and noted we are waiting for the studies to be completed. The project could start as early as September. John believes it could be one of the best shooting ranges in Idaho. Jerome County and the park will serve as hosts along with Fish and Game, as they may utilize the range for hunter education. The Jerome County Sheriff’s department may volunteer monthly cleanups, and the Archery Club is also willing to help. Brenda asked for the Board’s and BLM’s permission to add the Shooting Range project to the website as a project in progress. John reminded that this will not be part of the park, and Bill asked BLM how they would like it to be run adding the park would prefer to not responsible. Lisa believes Jerome county and Fish and Game will manage the range.
Yingst Grade Right of Way: Repairs are complete. Commissioner Crouch had informed Bill that the replacement gravel was too coarse. Bill said finer aggregate has been added and walkers are pleased. BLM is working on categorical exclusion (NEPA) documentation for the Right of Way. Lisa will let the SRCP know when it is final; she estimates it will be in May.
Shoshone Falls Overlook: Larry noted the BLM provided conditional approval at the last meeting with suggested modifications. Larry provided a handout with responses to the BLM’s positions and gave an overview including:
- Weeds: Tri-County Weed and the SRCP Board will request the county has a Tri-County Weed program in place.
- Raptors: Response is that construction will only take place been August 1 to December 15, and anything not completed in those months will wait until the following year.
- Rangeland: Addressing desire to build a fence that contains the roadway and installing a cattleguard. Randall with the IDL indicated that cows are already grazing in that location, and as such Larry suggested the park may not need to include a cattle guard and fencing.
- Standard Color: BLM’s environmental standard color is shadow grey and that the project will have buildings, toilets, etc. fabricated and/or painted in that color and concrete structures will be stained.
- Accessibility: There is a desire for the project to include accessibility and comply with ADA regulations suggesting four ADA parking spots and toilet facilities at the rim area. The plan would camouflage any structures and Larry noted there is a natural rise in that area. Larry shared a letter from the project engineer and affirmed we’d like to provide accessibility and avoid potential legal action.
- Notify Permittees: Matt with the BLM recommended that permittees are aware of the scope.
- Updated Overlay: Bill clarified more engineering changes will be made including the plan for ADA parking/restroom at the rim. Matt emphasized the BLM will need an updated visual overlay including the proposal with Larry adding that section including a vehicle turnaround.
- Regular Parking Lot: Greg asked if the proposed lot will have sufficient areas for RVs to turnaround and Larry stated there will be a parking area for cars and one for larger vehicles with the intent for the overlook area to remain as primitive as possible.
Brenda made a motion we change the design to move the gift shop and the main portable toilets to the parking lot, but maintain at least 4 ADA parking spots where we have them now and one ADA toilet with adequate screening of topography or rock. John seconded. Motion carried.
IDL Trail Bridge to Shoshone Falls: Bill and Brenda shared information learned from their visit with Randall at the IDL. Randall stated the best mechanism for this project is through a lease with IDL. IDL is not a multi-use agency but may consider a 10-year lease at a lower recreational lease rate estimate of $250/year based on the full acreage of the parking lot and trail. The trail is estimated to be 4.1 miles.
Off-Road Trails/Signs: Jim Williams representing SIORA shared a handout with maps and information indicating they estimate needing 300 sign posts to continue marking trails. A dozen or so for the immigrant trail are down and they’d replace those too. The best price they’ve found is $20/each for 300 or more for $7,275 total. Discussed grants, budgets and SIORA’s volunteer labor. Greg and Becky support the Park asking for the County to pay for signage as it is in line with the goals of developing the park and encompasses volunteers to do the work. Bill will bring the proposal to the County.
Grants: Larry thinks the RV grants won’t open until late next January. Larry spoke with excavator Scott Jackson and Kloepher Concrete and is pursing donations and materials towards the overlook.
Rock Crawling Park and Equestrian Campground to BLM: Paperwork has been misplaced for both projects. Bill requested this board formally move to approve projects.
Bill motioned for the SRCP Board to approve the paperwork as is to be sent to the BLM, Becky seconded, motion carried.
Bill motioned for the equestrian campground and trails on 700 East be approved by the SRCP Board and submitted, Becky seconded, motion carried.
Matt said they received the OHV park paperwork but has not received anything regarding the equestrian campground and trails. Brenda will locate the equestrian paperwork and she and Bill will make sure it is signed by the Commissioners and submitted it to the BLM.
Annual SIORA Cleanup: May 17th at 8:00 a.m. is SIORA’s annual cleanup. BLM has a waiver for volunteers. Becky added that the county also has a volunteer form. Rebecca added that the Southern Idaho Climbing Coalition is holding an Adopt-A-Crag at Tragic Alley on IDL lands, that they have a permit from Randall, and some volunteers may camp on adjacent BLM overnight. Rebecca will get BLM waivers from the cleanup people for the climber volunteers.
Next meeting May 8th.
With no further business the meeting was adjourned at 12:45 p.m.
