Federal wildlife officials will hold public meetings in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming on their proposal to buy conservation easements along the Bear River. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reportedly wants to buy up to 920,000 acres from willing sellers for an estimated $745,000,000.
From its headwaters in Utah's Uinta Mountains, the river flows north through Wyoming and Idaho before ending its 500-mile journey at the Great Salt Lake.
Wildlife service officials say the plan is designed to spare critical wildlife habitat as well as farm and ranch lands from urban sprawl and residential development.
The public is invited to the following meetings for comment:
Tuesday, December 4, 2012, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Cache County Fairgrounds Pavilion
450 South 500 West, Logan, Utah
Wednesday, December 5, 2012, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Rich County Senior Citizens Center
21 North Main Street, Randolph, Utah
Thursday, December 6, 2012, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Bear Lake County Senior Citizens Center
300 Hospital Way, Montpelier, Idaho
Friday, December 7, 2012, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Franklin Fire Protection District
55 West 1st Street, Preston, Idaho