vision2020
[Date Prev] [Date Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next]
[Date Index] [Thread Index] [Author Index] [Subject Index]

Re: US95 South



I appreciate your positive points, but I think you are heavier on the negatives.  I'd like to answer each of them:

Negatives:
1. Alignment 10A adds 200 acres of new, impervious surfaces (roads) to Latah County of which 67 acres is the shoulder to shoulder width of the roadway, 41 acres of wildlife habitat destroyed, 32 acres that could be used by Threatened and Endangered Species destroyed, Idaho Department of Fish and Game estimates 465 acres of wildlife
habitat negatively impacted. With the destruction also comes the increased potential for noxious weed expansion that would threatened remaining Palouse Prairie habitat. Palouse Prairie is considered an endangered ecosystem. A report prepared for the BLM cited the major threats to remnants were road building and weeds.
 
How many endangered species live in that area?  Most of the animal life has been pushed that direction by residences on Paradise Ridge than anything else.  And this is the first I've ever heard of the "Palouse Prairie"--sounds like a buzzword for environmental groups to use against development they don't want.
 
2. Dangerous Reisenauer Hill now becomes albatross of county. Genesee school bus must still negotiate during snowy weather. Poor alignment at corner of Eid and current US 95 still in place.  Poor road approaches at Zeitler and Snow roads still exist.
 
The "New-old" US95 will likely be adopted by the North Latah County Highway District.  The Highway District commissioners have passed a motion to accept the old section into their system.  NLCHD and ITD will be working together to facilitate the changeover to county road status.

3. Orographic fog (caused by the elevational change of the north-south Paradise Ridge against the prevailing east-west winds of the Palouse) will be a problem. Between Halloween 1999 and Christmas 1999, there were 13 days when orographic fog  descended below the level of the proposed route (doesnt't include the 10 days when
everyone had fog during late December). More snow accumulation at higher elevation.
 
This sounds like "Voodoo weather" to me.  I'm no scientist, so I guess I'm not informed enough to have ever heard of orographic fog, not even on the Weather Channel.  I would also venture to guess that you would see more fog on the Genesee flats than on Paradise ridge.

4. Disrupts cropland. Although much of the ground is currently in CRP, if it was good enough to farm during the last 15 years, it may be good enoughto farm in the future. (No woody vegetation planted, indicating farmers leaving the option to retill).
 
If you go look at CRP ground, you'll notice that a lot of it is being naturally seeded with trees.  There's a reason it went into CRP in the first place, mainly because it wasn't as profitable to farm it.

5. Route will greatly affect big game movement.  Moose use riparian/hawthorn stringers. Large deer herds (I've seen as many as 100 head) roam up and down the ridge. Elk run the stringers during spring and fall migration. Free roaming deer may become safety concern. Only available water for big game during harsh winters on west side of
new road - cover on east.
 
This is another problem caused by people moving into that area, driving the wildlife out into areas where Route 10A will be located.  It is also caused by the top of Paradise ridge being a game preserve.  Since there is no hunting pressure, the deer herd has boomed in that area.  A limited permit archery only hunt would be effective in controlling the deer population without risk to those who live in the Paradise ridge area of stray bullets.

6. Removes one of only 2 lower elevation pine stands that serve as wildlife oasis between the top of the Lewiston Hill and Moscow.
 
Those trees weren't there when Moscow was settled, so they're not "natural" anyway.

7. Removes pine stand used for nesting by 4 species of birds of prey: Red-tailed Hawks, American Kestrels, Great Horned Owls, and Barn Owls.  Removes pine stand that serves as integral part of wildlife area used by 115 species of birds, at least 8 mammals, 3 amphibians. Three species are listed as Species of Special Concern for Idaho:
Western Toad, Barn Owl, and Pygmy Nuthatch, the later being listed as borderline S2 (without concern for habitat, may become extirpated from State).
 
Remember the Spotted Owl that would only nest in old growth forest?  I seem to remember hearing about one nesting in an "old growth" K-Mart sign.

8. The biggest "losers" in this route, residents along Eid Road, won't even have close access to the new highway. Using the new road to go to Moscow will add about 1.5 miles to the trip.
 
They still have access to the old highway, not changing the mileage of their trip one inch.

9. Requires removal of at least 5 trailer homes, one 4-stall garage, one split level home and garage at Eid Road.
 
I think those people will be properly compensated.  And I personally have experience trying to sell a trailer home.  It's not easy.

10. Numerous wetland disruptions. Pond just south of Eid Road, riparian / hawthorn stringers, extremely close to Stevens? Springs (south end Zeitler Road), several ponds on Mike Snow property.  Construction through decomposed granite may cause increased sediment loads to South Fork Palouse River drainage.
 
From what i've seen, there is 0.6 acre of wetland that will be "disrupted".  I think that can be made up for very easily with new pond construction.

11. Proposed wetland mitigation for Alt 10A "takes" will be 10 miles away-no benefit to the wildlife of Paradise Ridge.
 
As noted before with the spotted owl example, wildlife species are a lot more resilient than a lot of people give them credit.

12. May impact water quality in Hidden Village. DEQ has concerns about this.
 
Concerns aren't proof.

13. Elevating the new road bed 60' above the current Eid Road will be noisy to Hidden Village residents.

Any noisier than having the road directly below the Hidden Village?
 
Dan Carscallen
Moscow



Back to TOC