Planning today's land uses for tomorrow's river. The Wood River Land Trust is commencing a scenario planning project to answer the question: “What zoning regulations, tools and programs can reduce water demand and lessen the negative impacts of development on riparian habitats in Blaine County, Idaho?" As part of a grant award from the Bureau of Reclamation's WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program, the project will be led by the Community Planning program at the

" Sprawl " is one of the most common terms used to describe the " unrestricted and rapid expansion of development " at the periphery of a community. It maintains a low-density character that neither maximizes land use efficiency  nor protects natural resources. Rather, sprawling development encroaches on natural habitats and expends natural resources  at a rate much higher than compact development  patterns. Whether it be on the outskirts of a large metropolitan area, on the

Comprehensive plans are “essential feature[s] of long-term planning for cities and counties all over the United States. ” In fact, the...

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, environmental planning researchers began to study the challenges experienced by small cities and...

The Wood River Land Trust announces a new program dedicated to managing growth for conservation: Community Planning.

One tool that Blaine County leverages to manage its growth is a transfer of development rights (TDR) program.

Community planning welcomes everyone to participate in the land use decisions, projects, and programs that shape where they live. The...

The Trout Friendly Yard Certification was launched in 2007. Its goal was, and remains, to empower residents throughout the Wood River Valley to conserve and protect water quality through native habitats. Patti Lousen, who joined the WRLT Team in 2012, was instrumental in the passing of resolutions with local municipalities to approve water conservation landscaping guidelines as best practices for the community. Guidelines for water-wise landscaping, building up soil health, a

The Nexus Study on New Development, Employee Generation & Demand for Community Housing found that across all jurisdictions, new market-rate residential development generates the need for more locally affordable housing than it creates in Blaine County. The 2024 Nexus Study of New Commercial and Residential Development, Employee Generation, and Demand for Community Housing (“Nexus Study”) quantifies the impact of new development on employee generation and the demand for commu

Click on the image to download the educational flyer, "Wildlife Vehicle Collisions (WVC) on State Highway 75." The Wood River Valley community cherishes the beautiful and abundant wildlife of its surrounding mountains and watersheds. The valley itself is a wildlife corridor, yet us humans have settled in it. The human impact on habitats in the Wood River Valley is undeniable, and will persist as long as the cities exist in the valley floor. To mitigate these impacts, coalitio