Initial funding for these purchases was provided by the enabling legislation and then supplemental funding in 1978. The last of the funding was exhausted in 1993. It is open for development because we have not been able to purchase the necessary scenic easements from the landowners in order to protect and maintain the primary values for which Congress established this recreation area back in 1972.
Scenic easements are a purchase of the development rights associated with a piece of property.
They remain with the land forever, but allow the land to remain in private ownership. The owners could continue to use the land for ranching, but it could not be developed for subdivisions or multiple housing units. We want to go on record that we respect private property rights. What makes this unique is that it is a situation where it involves private property in a Congressionally designated National Recreation Area where private land regulations apply. According to the Regional Office for the Forest Service Intermountain Region, the Sawtooth National Forest is the number two priority for Land and Water Conservation Funds in fiscal year 1997 and the number one priority in fiscal year 1998.