Council approves POP uphill trail in Little Sand Creek Watershed

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SANDPOINT — Council members approved Pend Oreille Pedalers’ application Wednesday for a roughly 2.4-mile uphill biking and hiking trail on the city-owned Little Sand Creek Watershed.

The trail, dubbed the “Lower Basin Build,” would provide an easy uphill path for bikers and hikers in the Lower Basin.

Currently, POP executive director Jason Welker said the existing “Lower Basin XC” trail is hazardous to uphill traffic. An analysis of data from the popular cycling and running app, Strava, indicated that roughly 90% of users on the current path relied on a vehicle shuttle to reach the top of the downhill path.

The project also comes fully funded, thanks to a $18,000 grant by the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, $10,000 in from the city Lower Basin trail maintenance funds, a $6,000 Equinox Foundation grant and $2,400 volunteer labor hours that have been committed.

The city received 111 letters of support, with zero neutral in opposition.

An analysis by POP of trail cameras also showed 1,950 individual mountain bikers over a 10-day period on the current trails, he said, which averages to roughly 200 per day.

“That’s just the bikers,” Welker said. “There’s also trail runners, berry pickers … think of that for an economic impact.”

POP also maintains numerous trails on private land including Schweitzer, Welker said.

Although the proposed trail runs through the watershed, because the ground disturbance is less than an acre, EPA guidelines do not apply. In addition, plans for the trail must comply with Bonner County regulations before beginning activity.

“We believe that recreation is compatible with conservation, and by getting people out into the woods, it is less likely to be developed in the future,” Welker said.

Council member Andy Groat praised POP for their efforts to support the community and environment.

“You guys are showing what stewardship, and taking care of the land for future generations, looks like,” he said.

One recommendation by the city’s legal counsel, Fonda Jovick, and city’s risk management officials, was to require POP to retain liability insurance for trail improvements. The liability insurance would not be due to a high risk on the trial, Jovick said, but the potential legal fees if there was a lawsuit to have the case dismissed.

“It’s really for a cost to defend if there’s a lawsuit, not so much the damages themselves,” she said.

However, council member Deb Ruehle noted, other facilities on city property such as docks at City Beach and the skate park have not required similar liability insurance despite potential injuries.

Ruehle also noted that because of the nature of the trail, it would not have drops or similar hazards associated with other trails. She added that at a later date, she would like the city to revisit its involvement in funding and maintaining public trails.

“Maybe it’s a long time overdue that the city step up and start maintenance for these trails,” she said. “A lot of the master plan is people crying out for trails, so why are we pushing out the responsibility to a nonprofit?”

Welker said that although there may be more advanced trials in the future, he would like to see the insurance policy revisited when the licensing agreement with the city is updated.

The application passed unanimously, without a requirement for additional liability insurance from POP, with the condition that construction shall not exceed one acre, with plans for completion this year. POP holds regular trail work parties, with the next one scheduled for July 17 from 10 a.m. to noon. More information is available at pendoreillepedalers.org