HomeMy Public PortalAbout2022.07.21 City of McCall Ltr IDL Cougar Island 211
TN216 East Park Street
City of McCall McCall, Idaho 83638
— Phone 208-634-7142
www.mccall.id.us Fax 208-634-3038
July 20,2022
Idaho State Land Board
Re: Cougar Island of the Payette Endowment Lands
Dear Governor Little, Attorney General Wasden, Secretary of State Denney, Controller Woolf, and
Superintendent Ybarra:
As we expressed to you in February 2021, the future of land development and conservation around Big Payette
Lake is a primary concern for our community and will impact Idaho for generations. We therefore strongly urge
you to consider the following when evaluating the fate of Cougar Island which we understand will be auctioned in
whole or in parts in September of this year:
Big Payette Lake is the sole source of drinking water for our community. It is a critical resource for our
community that must be protected. Cougar Island is in Payette Lake and in the McCall Area of Impact which is
subject to county ordinances regulating development on the shoreline of the lake. As you know from the decades
of efforts to transfer all cottage sites around the lake to the Payette Lakes Recreational Water and Sewer District
sewer system, all development on the perimeter of Payette Lake is required to be served by a DEQ regulated and
approved sewer system, not septic. Extending sewer lines to the Island will be difficult and extremely expensive.
IDL's "perc testing" of the Island as part of the appraisal process causes great alarm as it indicates the intent for
septic systems to be installed. This should not be allowed for the same reasons septic systems are not allowed on
any other shoreline property of Payette Lake. The city is therefore strongly encouraging Valley County to adopt
an emergency ordinance prohibiting development on islands in their jurisdiction until a county code can be
adopted regulating wastewater systems on islands in order to protect our drinking water source. Likewise,the city
strongly encourages the Land Board to not accept bids for the Island, in whole or in part, that intend to develop
the lot(s)with any kind of infrastructure requiring septic systems as you cannot make any representations this will
be approved.
Prioritize the use of conservation easements which will protect the most sensitive parcels adjacent to the
Lake and allow for recreational uses. The city implores the Land Board to only consider awarding the sale of
the Island lots to purchasers who incorporate conservation easements into their proposals. Our community,and all
of Idaho, does not want to lose access to public lands that contribute to the fundamental character of Idaho. Per
the McCall Area Comprehensive Plan, protecting public access to shoreline areas of the lake is a top priority of
the community.
In the long run,what is best for Big Payette Lake and the drinking water source for the City of McCall will
improve the value of all the endowment lands around McCall. We urge you to refrain from taking action
involving Cougar Island that will compromise McCall's drinking water and thereby devalue the other endowment
lands that remain in your stewardship.
Sincerely,
%/,/?' e /WmIP r
Robert S. riles
Mayor