The Nature Conservancy: Bureau of Land Management Acquires Cougar Bay From The Nature Conservancy

Press release from The Nature Conservancy:

August 31, 2021

This week, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced the acquisition of two parcels of land near Cougar Bay from The Nature Conservancy, securing public access into the future and preserving the area from development. The Cougar Bay area, located on the west side of Lake Coeur d’Alene, remains mostly undeveloped, offering diverse wildlife habitat including wetlands and rich conifer forests.

The BLM utilized $1.6 million in Land and Water Conservation Funds to secure the transaction. Acquisition of the 88.51-acre parcels from The Nature Conservancy improves the connectivity of public lands in Cougar Bay thanks to the BLM’s current management of the adjacent 155-acre John C. Pointner Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary. The area has been co-managed by the BLM and The Nature Conservancy for a number of years.

“We have enjoyed a long-standing partnership with The Nature Conservancy in the conservation of lands in Cougar Bay,” stated Kurt Pindel, BLM’s Coeur d’Alene District Manager. “We are very grateful to The Nature Conservancy for working with us to secure perpetual public access and conserve important habitat for wildlife and migratory birds.”

“It has been The Nature Conservancy’s privilege to steward and co-manage Cougar Bay,” said Robyn Miller, Deputy Director of The Nature Conservancy in Idaho. “This next step in our partnership with BLM ensures sensitive lakefront wildlife habitat will remain undeveloped while continuing to offer recreational opportunities for the community.”

Located only two miles southwest of Coeur d’Alene, Cougar Bay has become a popular destination to explore the area’s wetlands, lakeshore and forested hillsides. Through the acquisition, the BLM will acquire an additional mile of hiking trails and formal public access to nearly a mile of the lakeshore.

Pindel added that the acquisition will also benefit a wetlands restoration project the BLM will begin this fall in partnership with Ducks Unlimited.

The BLM manages approximately 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The agency’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

This press release was produced by The Nature Conservancy. The views expressed here are the author’s own.