Idaho proposal would bring almost 40,000 acres in Lochsa to public domain

A proposed land exchange just over the Idaho border could bring almost 40,000 acres of Lochsa River headwaters into public ownership. The U.S. Forest Service is working out a deal with Western Pacific Timber Co. that would exchange about 28,000 acres scattered across the Panhandle, Clearwater and Nez Perce national forests for the private timberland. Most of that private property is mixed in checkerboard fashion with public land. The timberland has healthy fisheries and wildlife habitat, according to Forest Service spokeswoman Laura Smith. It also covers portions of the Nez Perce National Historic Trail - the route that Chief Joseph's band of Nez Perce Indians followed in their attempt to resist being confined to a reservation. After some initial public comment, the Forest Service is considering four options, according to Nez Perce Forest Supervisor Rick Brazell. The preferred option would swap the lands over three years, starting with an exchange of 6,200 acres of federal land for Western Pacific Timber ground of equal value. Some of the private land could be bought outright if a $2 million Land and Water Conservation Fund award is confirmed in the fiscal 2011 federal budget. The money could underwrite exchanges in the remaining two years of the deal...more