The Cliffs' Blog

I don’t know whether or not you caught the article in Sunday’s (April 29, 2007) Idaho Statesman: “There's more to Xeriscaping than rock and cacti.” It was a well-written article which really caught my eye – in part because we’ve been working with Stew Churchwell (featured in the article) on native plant restoration at The Cliffs, and also because this week (April 29) is Idaho Native Plant Appreciation Week.

If you live in Idaho, chances are you have a little bit of environmentalism in your blood. I know I do. Does that surprise you? Some people think development and the environment are mutually exclusive – I couldn’t disagree more! Developers can be an important part of the solution by providing necessary resources state agencies lack to restore the land.

Let me give you an example. Did you know Idaho has some 3,000 native plant species? At the Cliffs, our biologists found a bunch -- native grasses like squirreltail and bluebunch wheat, native forbs including yarrow, arrowleaf balsamroot, and crepis, just to name a few. The problem is, they’re under threat from noxious weeds. In Idaho, damages from noxious weeds cost an estimated $300 million annually (from reduced productivity on agricultural and rangelands and reduced property values).

We know the problem all too well. The habitat study we commissioned for The Cliffs reported at least 80 percent of the site is highly degraded, consisting of noxious weeds, invasive foreign species and fire-damaged range, and this has significantly reduced the land’s historic ability to provide food and shelter for a variety of wildlife.

As part of our commitment to correcting past abuses of the land that have left it overrun by weeds, we are excited to begin restorative efforts at The Cliffs, which involve removing weeds and planting native shrubs grown from seeds taken from existing healthy plants at or near the site.

In announcing Native Plant Appreciation Week, Gov. Otter said “Native plant species are an important part of Idaho’s natural heritage, providing valuable aesthetic, economic and ecological contributions that make our state a special place to live.”

We couldn’t agree more. Stay tuned for more news on our plant restoration efforts.

While the plateau is known and loved, there has been surprisingly little close study of its current condition. Despite the presence of deer and antelope there, it has long been understood the plateau is in poor ecological health, due to overgrazing, wildfires and invasive weeds. An illegal subdivision on its eastern boundary, which uses dirt roads and septic tanks, certainly doesn’t help things.

For the first time, a comprehensive assessment of this land has been undertaken. A year ago, we hired Accipiter Consulting of Boise to study the land. In order to create a truly environmentally conscious development, we must first know the condition of the land, down to the level of specific patches of ground. Aside from its scientific rigor, this report presents significant and specific guidelines for development in this sensitive area.

This comprehensive assessment of the land represents our commitment to permanent habitat restoration of much of the property, including perpetual funding and stewardship for the habitat enhancement area. Conservation and environmental education programs are an integral part of this proposal.

We delivered this 75-page environmental assessment to Ada County on March 3 and a copy can be downloaded here (see the press release about the report here). The report is part of our application for The Cliffs Planned Community and it is also intended to provide opportunity for collaboration between Idaho Department of Fish and Game, local stakeholders and our project team. We are committed to protecting critical wildlife resources alongside a quality living experience in Ada County.

Some highlights of the report:
· At least 80 percent of the site is highly degraded, consisting of noxious weeds, invasive foreign species and fire-damaged range, and this has significantly reduced the land’s historic ability to provide food and shelter for a variety of wildlife.
· Current zoning law, which allows one dwelling per 40 acres, has a greater potential for spread of noxious weeds, wildfire and indirect impacts to the Boise River Wildlife Management Area. The current zoning allows for more septic tanks, increased fire danger and fences to block wildlife. (Skyline’s development plan calls for water recycling, a new fire station funded by Skyline and habitat/native plant restoration.)
· When Skyline successfully restores the native habitat on the property, the plateau will be able to support several times the number of deer it currently can support, based on available forage. Furthermore, we will require all dogs be leashed whenever outside a home, yard or the fenced dog park; close the wildlife habitat buffer, located on our property between the developed area of The Cliffs and the Boise River Wildlife Management Area, between November and April to minimize stress to wildlife during winter; require landscaping near the wildlife habitat buffer with native plants; and establish an education program for residents and the public to inspire environmental values.

I took another walk on the property today. Even in the dead of winter, the land is awe inspiring. But threats to wildlife are everywhere: scars from fires, medusahead and cheatgrass dominate swaths of land. Standing in a weed patch, I can see a group of homes just beyond the southeast boundary of the property (visible at the center of the photo at the bottom of this page). These homes pose additional threats because they are on septic tanks, which degrade water quality, and their dirt roads degrade water and air quality.

As I look out over the land, I appreciate that its stewards must heal the abuses, adopt modern environmental standards and conscientiously develop recreation opportunities. At times like these, the responsibility of this stewardship is at once sobering and exciting, because we have the vision, resources and commitment to make this a better place with The Cliffs.