BLM to hold public meeting for proposed Cougar Bay trail
<p>A view from the proposed trail that would skirt the banks of Cougar Bay.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - The Bureau of Land Management's Coeur d'Alene Field Office will host a public meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday on a proposed trail in the public preserve known as the John C. Pointner Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary at Cougar Bay.
The BLM, in cooperation with The Nature Conservancy, proposes to construct a 0.7-mile trail that would skirt the banks of Cougar Bay and eventually wind across to the eastern point.
The plan calls for several viewing benches to be installed.
The trail will be constructed across public and private land through an easement provided by an adjacent private landowner. A standard 2-foot wide dirt trail would be constructed using hand tools.
The proposed trail would connect to an existing system on the adjacent 88-acre parcel managed by the The Nature Conservancy.
The BLM acquired the 155-acre parcel of mixed wetlands and timberland from John Pointner upon his death in 2005. An engineer and eccentric gentleman, Pointer had a passion for maintaining the land for wildlife and bird species.
"His mission to protect the area from development led to the eventual transfer of ownership to the BLM," according to a press release. "The now public preserve has become a popular site for bird watchers and hikers due to its close proximity to Coeur d'Alene."
Public comments may also be submitted in writing to Kurt Pindel, 3815 Schreiber Way, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83815 or by email to: [email protected].
Information: Kurt Pindel, 769-5015 or Suzanne Endsley, 769-5004