Just when I was in Boise subduing HB538 (actually watching some smart
legislators derail it) and trying to make Idaho safe for the 21st century,
what do I come home to but some major misinformation about plans, ideas, and
comments about the proposals for a piece of the linear park, north of STyner
consisting partly of the generous donation of Katrina Berman.
Suvia was at our Linear Park Task FOrce meeting last week early and I had to
be a little late, so we missed each other's comments. The general gist of
our meeting was that where possible and valuable for habitat, creek flow,
flood control and the many other (sometimes counterpoised) goals the LInear
Park Task Force has for the entire linear park from the stateline to Moscow
Mountain along Paradise Creek, native trees, vegetation, etc. should be
preserved. The problem is that the past treatment of the willows, in
particular, has caused some less than positive development of the trees
themselves, including being ultra sensitive to wind and other damage. Roger
Blanchard of the CIty staff could fill you in, including on the native
vegetation issue. Yes, SUvia, I'm hot on the wild iris trail!!!
I will ask that minutes of the Task Force's efforts be posted on the
listserve so those who can't come to the meeting will at least get one
version of the conversation and some ways to place your ideas in the hopper
for full consideration.
Thanks for your interest and stop by a committee meeting. This is a good
group doing quite a lot about weaving a linear park into reality from our
piece of the CHipman trail through the university and eventually to Mountain
View Park and BEYOND!!!
Linda Pall
City COuncil Member and representative to the Linear Park Task Force
At 09:04 AM 2/12/98 -0800, you wrote:
>Suvia and all--
> I am quite surprised that a design that ravages the naturally-occuring
>vegetation at the linear park site is being considered. I asked about
>that problem at the linear park meeting and thought I was told that it was
>not an option.
> I also recall being told that any plan to cut mature trees would need
>approval by MOscow Tree Commitee-and ultimately City Council--leaving
>plenty of time for public input.
> BL
>
>
>
>>
>>from Suvia Judd edited by Dave Peckham
>>
>> I noticed that only one of the three plans for the `Hidden
>>Treasure' portion of the Linear Park makes much use of the park area for
>>flood control, and in that design the natural alternate channel is blocked
>>by raised earth with two holes excavated east and west. At the drop-in
>>session I spoke with the designer, and he indicated that the plan is to
>>CUT DOWN THE EXISING OLD WILLOW TREES ALONG THE CREEK, and recut the banks
>>to a shallower angle. I think a better alternative would be to leave the
>>trees and the old channel as is, and allow the flood waters to overflow
>>down the alternate channel which is broad and shallow and turfed, and
>>adequately carried several feet of moving water in the winters of 1996 and
>>1997, as in the past.
>>
>> I think the park trails can be designed around this nattural
>>flood basin, and the basin itself used for frisbee throwing, kite flying
>>etc during the 360 plus days it is not flooded. Please consider this
>>alternative concept.
>> I would like to see the final design work with and reflect the
>>existing qualities of the site more strongly. It would be a pity if in
>>order to make a "natural" park we had to cut down big willows and move
>>more dirt than we would have for apartments.
>>
>>When I spoke with the Linear Park Task Force they told me that the
>>designers had not made any of them aware that all three alternative
>>proposals called for cutting down the willows along Paradise Creek.
>>Committee members said that PCEI had told them that cutting down the creek
>>banks was essential for proper "restoration." as the banks cannot be
>>resloped without first removing the willows.
>>
>> I hope you on the net will discuss this issue. I question whether
>>we are working with nature if we cut down the willows, cut down the
>>banks of the creek, and block the natural, grasslined overflow swale and
>>basin. The one proposal which would use the park site for flood storage
>>blocks the overflow channel and digs a huge pit where the wild iris now
>>grow.
>> Thanks for your thoughts. I'll check in on the comments at he
>>library in a week or so.
>>
>>Suvia Judd
>>
>>
>>
>>
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