Central Idaho whitewater park faces turbulence

KETCHUM (AP) - Private supporters of a proposed whitewater park in central Idaho will pay for an environmental assessment on a possible transfer of federal land needed before the central Idaho project can move forward, officials say.

Ketchum Parks and Recreation Department Director Jennifer Smith told city councilors last week that the U.S. Bureau of Land Management has listed the city's land transfer request as a low priority and, due to budget restraints, won't complete a review in less than three years.

The Idaho Mountain Express reported the city hoped to start work by fall 2014.

Smith said private groups are expected to cover the cost of up to $50,000 to hire a third party to review the environmental assessment required by the BLM.

Ketchum officials hope to build the park north of the city. It would run near the Sun Peak picnic area southeast of the Hulen Meadows subdivision.

Smith said the Whitewater Park Committee, a group of private park supporters, the Wood River Land Trust and the city have agreed to pay for some of the work needed for the BLM to approve the city's request.

Ketchum officials in 2008, along with the Wood River Land Trust, submitted an application for a "recreation and public purposes patent" that would have the BLM granting two parcels of land to the city.

The parcel to the north would be for the whitewater park. Another parcel is west of the city.

The parcels would revert back to the BLM if Ketchum didn't maintain the land to the specified standards.