SANDPOINT — A proposal to designate Scotchman Peaks a wilderness area in Idaho was dealt a blow in Tuesday’s advisory vote.

A majority of Bonner County voters who cast ballots in Tuesday’s primary election came out against the wilderness designation in Idaho. The proposal drew 5,672 opposition votes and 4,831 support votes.

Fallout from the advisory vote was swift, although not unexpected.

U.S. Sen. Jim Risch announced on Wednesday that he would abide by the wishes of voters.

“Definitively, the community rejected this proposal. In a recent editorial, I wrote that I would honor the outcome of this election, regardless of the decision, and I intend to do so. I will not reintroduce the Scotchman Peaks legislation,” Risch said in the statement.

Risch introduced the designation legislation in 2016 at the urging of county commissioners and Friends of Scotchman Peaks. The legislation sought to designate nearly 13,960 acres in Idaho as wilderness. Risch said the legislation was meant to start a conversation and gauge local support for the proposal.

Introduction of the legislation touched off a series of well-attended open house events where the proposal encountered significant pushback from opponents who saw it as a threat to public access and unwanted federal regulation.

Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness posted a message to its Facebook page on Wednesday which thanked those who support the designation.

“Yesterday’s advisory vote showed that a large number of Bonner County primary voters value wilderness. The depth and breadth of this support demonstrates that wilderness and conservation values are important to a significant number of people,” the post said, referring to the relatively slim margin (841 votes) in the advisory vote.

Moreover, the group said it would press on with its mission of protecting Scotchman Peaks for future generations through a wilderness designation, ongoing stewardship and education.

Bonner County Elections officials are still canvassing the vote in which 11,100 ballots were cast. However, Bonner County Clerk Michael Rosedale said voter turnout was nearly 50 percent.

“I think Scotchman Peaks was the big draw,” Rosedale said.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.