This Boise-area public land could close to shooting, ATVs amid uptick in trash dumping

The Idaho Department of Lands is considering closing a 20,000-acre parcel of public land to target shooting and motorized vehicle recreation due to an increase in trash dumping and vehicle damage, officials said in a news release Tuesday.

The department, which manages 2.4 million acres of endowment lands that help fund public education, said the parcel west of Mountain Home has become a dumping ground for items like refrigerators, couches, mattresses, vacuum cleaners and other trash.

“Due to the abuse of this land, IDL is considering restricting large vehicle access and target shooting,” the news release said. “Closing the land is an action of last resort and something IDL hopes to avoid.”

Officials said drivers are also going off-road with ATVs and pickups, causing erosion and creating unauthorized routes that also damage the land.

During a recent cleanup, the department removed two trailers and two pickup truck beds full of trash. Officials encouraged people to report dumping to the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office and include license plate numbers and photos if possible.

The parcel is also open to be “adopted” by groups interested in helping clean up public land. Anyone interested can call the department’s Southwest office at 208-334-3488.