Important habitat, popular recreation spot in Boise River is proposed site of golf course expansion project
The River Club, formerly known as the Plantation Country Club, has its eye on an island in the Boise River for a golf course expansion. The island, located just east of the Glenwood Street bridge in Boise, is held in the public trust by the State of Idaho. The River Club would lease the state-owned land and build several holes on the island, across the river from the current course.
Idaho’s public trust lands differ from state endowment lands in that they cannot be sold or traded. As public trust land, the island is managed by the Idaho Department of Lands for public uses. This parcel is frequented by fishermen and river recreationists. Native cottonwood forest currently covers the island, making it crucial natural habitat in an increasingly altered and urban riparian zone along the Boise River. IRU sees the island as important public land that provides direct and indirect benefits to Boise area residents, many of which would be diminished if private golf holes were to be constructed.
The Boise River is very much the centerpiece of the Treasure Valley. It has been significantly modified as a result of dams and diversions, which provide a steady source of irrigation to thousands of acres of land and control river flows. These modifications have allowed our communities to grow as they have, including heavy development within the river floodplain. The natural wetland and riparian habitat that does still exist provides crucial services such as flood control, dilution of pollutants, riverbank stability, and important habitat for a number of aquatic and terrestrial species.
The construction of golf greens and accompanying infrastructure could mean increased fertilizer runoff into the river system, river bank erosion, altered habitat that diminishes wildlife resources, and alterations to established public access. Rampant floodplain development has made parcels of remaining riparian habitat along the Boise River only more valuable in maintaining a healthy river system. There is also risk associated with building in the river’s current floodplain. Even under the current controlled flow regime, the island sees frequent flooding.
As initiatives like the Boise River Enhancement Network have shown, Boise residents highly value the native cottonwood forest and a healthy river resource. Leasing the public-owned island for further development is a step in the wrong direction for our constantly evolving relationship with the Boise River.
The Boise River represents a fairly healthy cold-water fishery with good water quality and habitat. Maintaining these qualities means prioritizing the preservation and restoration of as much native riparian forest along the river as possible.
Habitat, like the island, represents a little piece of nature in the city, and allows the Boise River to function in a healthy manner that can support our community and wildlife. As such, this parcel of public land should be viewed for not only its direct benefits, but also on an ecosystem level in the wider context of the entire river’s health.
The project would require permits on a state and local level as well as some level of public involvement to gain approval. IRU will be monitoring the development proposal closely and will strongly advocate for this public land to continue to benefit the river system and our community as native riparian forest.