The Courier
NEWS
News from the Heart of Idaho Camas • Lincoln • Gooding
April 27, 2022
Vol 46 Num 17
New Thousand Springs Visitor Center to Open Free Seedlings Available on Arbor Day
Idaho Gov. Brad Little will oversee the April 28, 2022 opening of the new Visitor Center that will enhance the guest experience at Thousand Springs State Park and the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument by putting rangers and resources in a single location. “The Hagerman Valley has wonderful recreational and historical resources, spread about a large and scenic area,” said Susan Buxton, director of the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. “This center will become a hub, the central place where visitors learn about what the area offers so they can plan which adventures to experience.” The dedication will occur this Thursday, April 28th, at 1:00 p.m. at the new center just north of Hagerman - 17970 Highway 30. Thursday’s opening of the $2.3 million, 3,400-square-foot structure provides new opportunities for historical interpretation, improved recreational access and economic vitality for the Hagerman Valley. The center consolidates access to the six units of Thousand Springs – Malad Gorge, Kelton Trail, Billingsley Creek, Ritter Island, Niagara Springs, and the Box Canyon Springs Nature Preserve. It also provides better access to the Hagerman Fossil Beds, bringing information and interpretation close to the archaeological site. “We are absolutely delighted with the partnership project at Thousand Springs State Park,” said Wade Vagias, Superintendent, Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, a unit of the National Park Service. “Starting today, our two agencies will together provide recreation and interpretive services to visitors about the many wonders of the Hagerman Valley and the NPS is looking forward to collaborating with our IDPR colleagues for years to come at the new park.” The center represents a novel partnership between the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) and the National Park Service (NPS), which have agreed to co-locate to provide more services to visitors at less cost. IDPR built the center and NPS agreed to lease space in the building for the next 25 years. Only a handful of such agreements are believed to exist in the nation. “By linking the many unique elements of Thousand Springs and the marvels of the fossil beds, we provide a richer experience at a lower cost,” IDPR’s Buxton said. In addition to the center, construction of a new, 50-space Billingsley Creek Campground at the park is underway. The $5 million facility is expected to open in the fall of this year. Learn more about Idaho’s State Parks and Recreation Programs and follow the progress at Thousand Springs State Park online: www.parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/news. For more information about Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, please visit: www.nps.gov/hafo and follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/HagermanFossilBedsNPS.
Idaho Celebrates Arbor Day on April 29th
Each year, the last Friday in April is set aside to celebrate Arbor Day and call attention to the important role trees play in our lives, our communities, and our state. This year, Arbor Day falls on Friday, April 29th and marks the 150th anniversary of the first nationally celebrated Arbor Day. The first Arbor Day was held in 1872 in Nebraska. Today, Arbor Day is celebrated in all 50 states and many other countries. This year, Idaho will celebrate the history and future of our state's economically vital public and private forests. All Idahoans are invited to join local, state and federal partners for an inspirational, in-person and experiential event. Free seedlings, refreshments, informational booths, and special presentations. "Idaho is our uniquely beautiful home and trees are our state's great renewable resource, sustainably managed for the future," said Jennifer Okerlund, Idaho Forest Products Commission (IFPC) Director. "This Arbor Day, we hope you will look to Idaho's forests for all the things they contribute to where we live and our way of life." As part of the celebration of Arbor Day, Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) has partnered with the Idaho Forest Products Commission (IFPC) to provide free seedlings to the people of Idaho. On April 29, every IDL office throughout the state will offer seedlings while they last. Forests and trees play an important role, providing clean air, removing and store carbon dioxide, sending fresh oxygen into the air, providing habitat for wildlife, clean water through our watersheds, and opportunities for recreation. 63% of Idaho's water comes from the forests. Forests that are harvested, are required by state code to be replanted. Last year IDL planted nearly 2 million seedlings after harvests and fires. For every tree harvested... continued on page 3...