Open Space Conservation

Conservation efforts in the Boise Foothills increased after a two-year property tax known as the Foothills Serial Levy was passed by 59% of Boise voters on May 22, 2001. The approval raised $10 million for conservation efforts in the Boise Foothills. In 2002 and 2003, the City included the two-year levy in property taxes for commercial, residential and industrial property.

To manage the funds raised, the Foothills Conservation Advisory Committee, consisting of 12 volunteer citizens was appointed by the Mayor. Their mission is to " . . . make recommendations to the Mayor and City Council for permanent protection of natural open space in the Boise Foothills, consistent with the open space serial levy passed by the voters on May 22, 2001, and will work to ensure that the levy funds are spent wisely." They meet on the first Wednesday of each month at 7:30 am in the Jim Hall Foothills Learning Center. This meeting is open to the public and agendas and meeting minutes are posted on the Boise Parks & Recreation web site. The city invested the initial $10 million dollars and earned interest resulting in about $11 million available for open space conservation efforts.  In 2012, the City sold Hammer Flat to Idaho Department of Fish and Game for $4.2 million to expand the Boise River Wildlife Management Area.  The monies replenished the Foothills Levy Fund.

Now in its twelfth year, the Foothills Program is proud to report that using $13.4 million from the Foothills levy funds 10,750 acres of undeveloped foothills property have been protected as public open space through acquisition, donation, conservation easement, or land exchange.  With approximately $1.8 million remaining in the fund, efforts will continue to focus on protecting critical habitat, riparian corridors, rare plants, historic sites, and potential trail connections from east to west across the Boise Front.

Annual Reports and other documentation will provide additional details into the conservation efforts of the Boise Foothills.