SAWTOOTH NATIONAL RECREATION AREA

The Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA) comprises 756,000 acres of public and private land in central Idaho. The size of Rhode Island, the SNRA contains 50 snowcapped peaks exceeding 10,000 feet, 500 alpine lakes, lush meadows, countless species of wildlife, and remnants of our pioneer heritage

Photo by Glenn Oakley

Congress sought to protect this magnificent country from visually blighting and ecologically destructive development by creating the SNRA in 1972. The U.S. Forest Service was directed to manage the area in a way that would restrict development, while simultaneously respecting private property rights and allowing for varied uses of the land.

Good progress was made initially. Between 1972 and 1986, the Forest Service preserved the natural, historical and recreational qualities of the SNRA, largely by acquiring conservation easements on approximately 90 percent of the 25,000 acres of private property in the area.

Between 1987 and 1996, federal funds to purchase conservation easements were not made available to the Forest Service managers of the SNRA, and some owners of the 2,500 acres of unprotected private land began to subdivide their properties.

The SNRA also faced another problem. In recent years, local Forest Service managers weren't receiving enough federal money to properly maintain the SNRA's recreational facilities and services. As a result, trails, campsites and roads were in disrepair, environmental education programs had been curtailed, and other visitor services had been shortchanged.

Photo by Kevin Syms

It was against this backdrop of neglect that the Sawtooth Society was formed.

The Society's most notable achievements include the following:

ADVOCACY

• Mobilized policymakers and the public to address the threats facing the SNRA
• Established a coalition of public and private organizations to address the risk of catastrophic wildfire in the area
• Promoted collaborative decision-making by SNRA stakeholders

PRESERVING OPEN SPACE

• Stopped the most immediate threat of high-density subdivision development in the SNRA by negotiating the purchase of a conservation easement on the Piva family's Basin Butte Ranches.
• Worked with the Administration and Congress to secure $17 million in federal funds for the purchase of conservation easements in the SNRA. Since 1998 the agency has secured conservation easements on 13 properties, totaling nearly 3,000 acres.
• Published a booklet to increase public awareness and understanding of federal regulations for the use and development of private land in the SNRA.

ENHANCING RECREATION

• Invested nearly $500,000 to maintain trails, campsites and other recreational facilities and services in the area
• Initiated and manage a special Idaho motor vehicle license plate program that is generating thousands of dollars for recreation-related projects in the area

While much has been accomplished, more needs to be done.  Learn what you can do to help (Help Us Accomplish More) .