Crow Update, June 6

Hello, this is John Kangas with the Crow Gliding Area Update for June 6th, 2010. This Update is about our meeting with the City of Boise this last week.

On Friday June 4th, a cordial and productive meeting was held at Boise City Hall. Representing the Idaho Hang Gliding Association was myself and Lisa Tate. As many folks know, Lisa is an active fund raiser for Idaho Hang Gliding who also serves as the President of the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association. Representing the City was Jade Riley-Chief of Staff for Mayor Bieter, and Maryanne Jordan-President of the Boise City Council. Also in attendance was Jim Hall-Director of Boise Parks and Recreation.

The meeting began with City Council President Jordon asking us about the historic use of the site, along with questions about our frequency of activity, our season of use, and the number of folks that would use the area on any given day. We brought a number of aerial photographs that facilitated the discussion and enabled the parties to engage in a fluid discussion about the Crow Gliding Area. The discussion remained very positive.

This is one of the photos we shared at the meeting with areas of interest added for this update. One of the key points we stressed at the meeting was the Gliding Area's location near the existing homes and people. Our position has always been that our activity has very low impact. Here at the Crow, our silent activity is also an ideal buffer between the people and cars in the neighborhood, and the prime deer habitat located further away on Hammer Flats. A lot of folks who haven't been out to the Crow Gliding Area, are under the misconception that we are gliding deep into the flats, but this is not the case as we can see from this photo.

During the meeting we were asked about our historic use of the ridge road to access launch. We shared that in over 35 years of gliding at the Crow, some of the previous owners allowed our use of the ridge road while others have asked us to not use it. Most folks that have flown the Crow lately have carried their gliders up the hill. Not too much of a problem for the lighter gliders with able bodied flyers, or if we have a friend to help carry the glider, but it is definitely a restriction for those folks with heavier gliders or those folks with disabilities or those folks getting along in age. Not withstanding our future use of the road, we expressed our sense that the ridge road should always remain in place as a fire break and for fire fighting access in case of a dangerous brush fire.

Speaking of brush, a question about rehabilitation of the native plants and its effects on our gliding was asked. We stated that of the two general types of gliders that we fly, the lighter Paragliders with their fine lines would be most effected by brush and that the preferred surface conditions were those having a natural grass surface with no rocks. This is one of the features that makes the Crow such a lovely hill. We shared our feelings that given the hot and dry dessert and the hot SW facing aspect of the Crow, it would be difficult to establish native brush on the hill without irrigation. An area void of brush next to the homes also makes a great deal of sense in regards to fire safety. Hopefully, all of this will be considered when the City Planners roll up their sleeves and really look at this property, its location, and establish long term priorities and viability.

During the meeting we once again emphasized our desire to partner with the City at the Crow Gliding Area. For example, we discussed the old house that is visible next to the Highland Valley Road. We can see it in the picture next to the trees just above the road. More than likely this house will need to be razed and we volunteered our organization in the cleanup. We would also encourage the City Park Planners to take a close look at this area as a possible parking and waiting area under the cover of those old trees. Shade is a wonderful thing in the desert when waiting for friends or just enjoying a lovely summer evening listening to the wind and the birds while watching gliders above the Crow.

Gliders getting ready above Missoula, Montana at Mt Sentinel. They fly on University property yet access the top of the ridge using a Forest Service road.

Before the meeting ended we were tasked with providing the City with some of our other use agreements in the state and the region. Currently we are researching our files and also corresponding with other gliding groups to provide these items to the city. For example, the Missoula flyers have a working agreement with the U.S. Forrest Service that allows them to transport their gliders up a Forrest Service maintenance road that is otherwise closed to vehicular traffic. The agreement requires a permit that must be carried by the flyers using the road and it seems very reasonable. We are currently gathering the information requested and we will be forwarding it on to the City Council President over the next few days.

We are very hopeful that our dialog with the City will continue, and that much like the communities of Missoula and Salt Lake, we can all be proud of our very own gliding hill in Boise. Stay tuned for further developments.

Thanks to everyone for all of your letters and calls of support,

Blaine, Lisa, Patrick, Aaron, and John

Crow Update

Hello, this is John Kangas with a Crow Gliding Area update for June 2nd, 2010. Thus update is about public records we have attained, current news about the Crow Gliding Area, and a meeting scheduled later this week with the City.

As mentioned in our last update, we are exercising our rights to gain access to public records. Regretfully, we are not liking what we are seeing. We never completely understood why our Park and Recreation folks never moved forward after our initial intro meeting. This last week we received material that shows that Boise was planning on sale of the property to Fish and Game long before Boise even owned it. In other words, they were just going to buy and sale the property on behalf of Fish and Game. The City just never shared that detail with us. This is probably why Park and Recreation left us in limbo.

Contained in the information we attained, is a draft memorandum of understanding that shows that the City and Fish and Game were planning a interim management plan that would not allow most outdoor recreational activities on the property. Fish and Game only estimated $2500 dollars a year to manage the property. It looks like that in order to meet that low estimate, anything other than walking was going to be prohibited. This would include Bicycling and Horses. Off leash dogs were also going to be prohibited on the property. In the documents, Park and Recreation Director Jim Hall and Chairman of the Open Space Advisory Committee Chairman Chuck McDevitt indicated to the Fish and Game folks that our quiet Gliding should not be allowed. In stark contrast they then discussed use of short range weapons and fire arm safety at Hammer Flats. It seems clear that Fish and Game always wanted to preserve a hunting option for the property, and by using deer habitat as the "magic words" they could convince the city to limit other activities that would eventually burden their core mission statement (i.e. Growing and Harvesting game.)

We received a more positive note from Jeff Gildehaus a long time glider instructor and full time outdoorsman who flew the Crow Gliding Area for many years. Jeff says this about the Crow. "The fact that 35+ years of flying and the wildlife has been there all along speaks volumes about the compatibility."

Public pressure for the City to do the right thing and open "our land" to compatible use continues to grow. Most folks know in their hearts that we can have lovely deer habitat in areas that people can enjoy too. News channel 7 broadcast a story about the proposed sale to Fish and Game last week. http://www.ktvb.com/news/local/Boise-to-sell-700-acres-on-Hammer-Flat-to-Fish-and-Game-95063454.html

In the interview Mayor Bieter said..."Geographically, it's a pretty important area for hang gliding and we'll certainly work with all the parties as much as we can to accommodate that." The Mayor stated that hunting would not be allowed by the City as terms of the sale to Fish and Game. The story grew more interesting when the Governor of Idaho later said on talk radio that the State would not buy the property unless Hunting was allowed.

Here is an aerial shot of our hill looking NW. Because the Crow Gliding Area is on the city/people side of the Hammer Flats property, next to the existing homes in the area, it represents an ideal buffer and brush fire safety zone for all of the deer brush that Fish and Game plans on planting. It would also be an ideal area to locate a small parking area for our activity and other outdoor recreation going into the Hammer Flats area and up the Cobbs ridge to rivers trail.

This coming Friday, the City has scheduled a meeting between the Idaho Hang Gliding Association and the Chief of Staff for the Mayor along with the President of the City Council. We look forward to the meeting. We know that our Gliding activity is compatible with almost any outdoor management plan, and any willing agency, as we have demonstrated all across our great nation. We believe that we can partner and we are ready to roll up our sleeves and put together a great plan.

Looks like we are making a difference folks. Remember, democracy will only work if we participate. Please continue to call and write to your elected officials. Please Call Mayor Biter's hotline at (208) 384-4404 and share with him how you feel. It looks like he may be sensitive to saving a great outdoor gliding legacy as he works in "Making Boise the most livable city in the country."

Keep good thoughts about saving the Crow Gliding Area, we will see what the Mayor's Office has to say on Friday.

Blaine, Lisa, Patrick, Aaron, and John,