State Gets Access to Public Fishing Spot Across Private Land
TWIN FALLS, Idaho (AP) — State wildlife officials have finalized an agreement to let people trek through private ranchland to reach a popular fishing spot north of Picabo.
The Times-News reports that Idaho Fish and Game secured public access along 2 miles of the banks of Silver Creek downstream of U.S. 20 highway bridge. The deal was made with the Nick Purdy family, which has owned the property alongside the creek since the 1880s.
The Purdy family has granted the public access through temporary agreements with the state in the past years, but the most recent deal grants Idaho a permanent easement. In exchange, the Purdy family was granted about 30 acres of state land, which it has been farming hay and grain on for years by agreement.