SANDPOINT -- Taking a practical approach to conservation is the prime objective of the Greater Sandpoint Greenprint, a community-driven protection plan that aims to preserve the area's most tourist- and business-friendly natural resources for the economic health of the community. These key resources include water, open space, trails and working land.

A joint project of greater Sandpoint -- which includes the towns of Dover, Ponderay, Kootenai, Hope, and East Hope -- Idaho Conservation League, Kaniksu Land Trust and The Trust for Public Land, the area's greenprint is now in its final format.

At the May meeting of the Planning Commission, Aaron Qualls said the plan relies on the opinions of area residents, which partners collected via a community survey completed last fall. Additionally, staffers sought input into the plan at such well-attended events as the Farmers' Market, Oktoberfest, Sandpoint Film Festival, Angels Over Sandpoint programs, ski swaps and other gatherings.

A greenprint steering committee, composed of 46 diverse community volunteers, met several times to solidify the results from 560 completed surveys, according to the final document. 

Public input revealed several key findings. Preserving water quality, particularly in Lake Pend Oreille, was the highest-ranking priority among 81 percent of respondents while 44 percent prioritized mountain conservation. People also prioritized access to recreation and the preservation of wildlife habitats, according to the final plan.

Seventeen percent of those surveyed said that a strong planning and zoning department was critical in creating a balance between the regional economy and the local culture. Thirteen percent said that diversifying the economy would help, too. They suggested focusing on the development of green alternative energy options, light industrial facilities and small manufacturing firms.

Greenprint identifies the need to maintain and build upon upon the wealth of greater Sandpoint’s recreational areas. At present, 660 miles of trails crisscross Bonner County, and plans are in the works to add nearly 500 miles more, according to the Bonner County Trail Plan. The city of Sandpoint alone boasts 107 acres of parks. The lake, the shoreline and Schweitzer Mountain all add immeasurably to recreational opportunities that attract people -- and revenue -- to the area.

Thirty percent of those surveyed were in favor of prioritizing existing and proposed trail development while 25 percent supported creating better lake shore access. Twenty percent advocated improving access to other recreations in area streams and lakes.

The greenprint plan recognizes working lands, including those used for crops, livestock and timber harvest as a key economic sector. Available agricultural land decreased by 15 percent from 2007 to 2012, according to the Census of Agriculture. Forestry jobs have been on the decline for several years, too. The public identified its priorities for working lands to be the preservation of agricultural soils as well as ranch land, farms and forests. 

All these positive conservation measures require funding, and the Greater Sandpoint Greenprint lists several possible sources, including land trusts, state and federal grants, and private donations.

The next steps for the greenprint project will be publicizing the document, engaging champions such as area recreation groups and utility companies to promote its policies and incorporate the greenprint into future city and county planning documents.

"Ultimately, greenprinting involves defining a conservation vision, securing funding, and acquiring and managing protected lands. The goal of a greenprint is to facilitate practical, voluntary land conservation," document creators said.