Heyburn State Park is a 7,825 acre state park located in northern Idaho. It has a long history of inhabitation by the Coeur d'Alene Tribe and serves as an important cultural site. The park offers recreational opportunities and is divided into six neighborhoods with varying facilities and land uses. While the park generates income through leasing cabins and fees, its finances remain tight. Improving aging infrastructure like water systems remains an ongoing challenge, and environmental issues like water quality indicate that greater sustainability is still needed to protect park resources for the future.

1. Joshua Arnold
LA 460
A Case Study

2. Intro to Heyburn
-located in Benewah County in Idaho’s
northern panhandle
-became a state park in 1911
-recreational opportunities for people living
in northern Idaho, eastern Washington, and
western Montana
-named after Idaho senator Weldon B.
Heyburn
-7,825 acres; about 1/3 is water
-three shallow “lakes”, namely Hidden
Lake, Chatcolet Lake, and Benewah Lake

3. History
Tribal Heritage
“The Creator owns the lake, but he put the Coeur d' Alenes here to take care of it”
(Anon.; cdatribe.org)

4. History
-Schitsu’ Umsh, or Coeur d’
Alene Tribe, has inhabited the
region for thousands of years.
-original territory extended
almost 5,000,000 acres.
-puts Lake Coeur d’ Alene
in the center giving a lot of
focus on the lake

5. History
-tribe depended heavily on the
land as a source of sustenance,
guidance, and inspiration
-Heyburn State Park, served as
a place for one of the tribe’s
staple foods, the water potato
-plants grow in marsh-like
areas
-today, water potatoes are
harvested by tribal members
during Water Potato Days

6. History
Regional History
-1500’s to the early 1600’s, chief
Twisted Earth’s vision; Jesuit
Missionaries
-Oregon Donation Act passed
through congress; allowed a
settler and his wife to homestead
up to 640 acres in the Oregon
Country
-Captain John Mullan created the
Mullan Military Road from 1858 to
1862; passed through Heyburn
- two main rail lines built through
Heyburn State Park.

7. History
History of Heyburn State Park
-In 1903, Washington Water
Power Co. builds dam at Post
Falls, Idaho raising the water
level of Lake Coeur d’ Alene 7-
9 feet
-March 16, 1908 Weldon B.
Heyburn addressed the U.S.
Senate saying, “I want, in
Idaho, one National Park”.
-The bill was passed on April
30, 1908; price was set at
$11,379.17 ($1.25/acre)
-park acted as a summer resort

8. History
1919-Administration passed from Fish and Game to
Department of Public works.
1920-study by F.G. Miller and Henry Schmitz report of
poor sanitation conditions.
1932-State Highway 5 is completed between Plummer
and St. Maries
1934- 200 man Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)
1938 - 50 acres acquired to the north end of park for $500
1947- Administration of park transferred to Director of
Public Highways
June 1947 -Chalcolet village incorporated with 125
residents.
1949- Administration transferred to the State Land
Commission.
1952-Administration transferred to Department of State
Parks
1965-Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation is
established

9. Existing Resources
Topography
-less than 5% is most
flexible for development.
-5% to 10% slopes can
still be developed
-10% no development
takes place except
hiking trails.
-elevation rises from 500 to 600 feet before ideal slope percentages for
development.
-result is limited land near the water for activities.
-developments are clustered instead of lining the entire waterfront.

10. Existing Resources
Soils
-leased cottages built on
the Ardenvoir-McCrosket
Association, Blinn Stony
Loam, and Lacy Rock
Outcrop soils.
-areas retained dense
vegetation; reducing
erosion factor
-some soils have
permeability problems
that affect the sanitary
systems

11. Existing Resources
Hydrology
-Coeur d’ Alene Lake and tributaries
in Spokane River Basin
-surface area is 31,475 acres; 24
miles long shoreline 109 miles
-waters in park are Hidden Lake,
Chatcolet Lake, Benewah Lake,
lower end of the St. Joe River
-tributaries are Plummer Creek,
Pedee Creek, and Benewah Creek
-groundwater of Heyburn State Park
is limited
-water quality of Heyburn State Park
not good

12. Existing Resources
Vegetation
-Heyburn forested area
composed of Idaho Mix.
-includes Douglas fir,
grand fir, western larch,
ponderosa pine, western
white pine, lodgepole
pine, and western cedar
-riparian vegetation made
of black cottonwoods and
water grasses/shrubs
-water plants serve as
great habitat for water
foul; good indicator of
eutrophication

13. Existing Resources
Views and Vistas
-to see the entire park
hike the trail system
to Shoeffler Butte.
-look east out to the
St. Joe River.
-500 ft below the
butte, is Indian Cliffs
with same view

14. Heyburn State Park
Park Classification
Existing Facilities
Land Use
Hidden Lake
Chatcolet (Chatq’ele’)
Plummer Bay
Hawley’s Landing
Rocky Point
Benewah
Decision Making and Finance
State Park’s Departmental Goals
Heyburn’s Agenda
Cost of Operations
Income

15. Heyburn State Park
6 major “neighborhoods”; each has different levels of seasonal
housing, recreational facilities, and use types
Hidden LakeChatcolet (Chatq’ele’)
Plummer Bay
Hawley’s Landing Rocky Point
Benewah

16. Heyburn State Park
Land Use -high intensity used
by greatest number of
visitors for longest
time.
-moderately intense
has more natural
resources; require
less maintenance.
-low intensity
requires very little
maintenance;
conservation major
objective

17. Heyburn State Park
Hidden Lake
-28 float homes; will be phased out
-different ways of handling/maintaining
waste
-a trail follows shoreline and used for
fishing access; loops back into the Mullen
Trail system

18. Heyburn State Park
Chatcolet (Chatq’ ele’)
-53 cabins clustered
together; density around
12-15 units per acre
-day use involves group
facility for picnicking,
barbecuing, and field
games
-day use docks
-campground at the end of
the main Chatcolet drive;
includes 40 camp sites and
shower building
-“Route of the Coeur d’
Alenes”; rest area for trail
located near marina

19. Heyburn State Park
Plummer Bay -management offices and
maintenance shops
park manager resides
-trail head; system with
the “Route of the Coeur d’
Alenes” trail
-Plummer Point; nature
observance & connection
to the trail systems
-Nature Interpretive
Center
sheltered interpretive
display; boardwalk
stretches into marshland.

20. Heyburn State Park
Hawley’s Landing -first area from State
Highway 5 traveling
east from Plummer
-acts as official western
entry
-sizable campground
tents and RV’s
-13 leased cabins
located near the water
-campground has a
shower building, a
dump station, and small
theatre for programs

21. Heyburn State Park
Rocky Point
-most leased cabins
located; 83 with density of
20 units per acre
-most boating activity;
marina is largest in the
park.
-supply and fuel store
-picnic area, beach, and
Chatq’ ele’ Interpretive
Center; center was original
lodge built in ‘30’s by
Civilian Conservation Corps

22. Heyburn State Park
Benewah -a group campground
-not used as much as
Hawley’s Landing
-campground includes
showering area and trail
system.
-furthest facility from all the
others
-a trailer park is set up
same as leased cabins;
none front on water; will be
phased out

23. Heyburn State Park
Decision Making Hierarchy & Statewide Goals
-six member board,
-State Park’s Director
-Regional Director
-Park Manager
-Manager Assistants
-Park Rangers
“Horizon” currently is set through 2005 and some goals include:
-requiring all parks to complete a Natural Resource Plan
-20 new cabins or yurts built per year, per park
-200 new campgrounds per year, statewide
-a snowmobile recreational area per park

24. Heyburn State Park
Heyburn’s Goals
-in the implementation process of Natural Resource Plan
-build a community using new cruise boat
-work toward a co-management system with Coeur d’ Alene Tribe for
“Route of the Coeur d Alenes” trail
-replace old water lines to serve facilities better
-upgrade way of making camping reservations; via the internet

25. Heyburn State Park
Finance
$55,729
Capital (Special Equipment)
$13,000
Marina
$30,003
Cabins (waste disposal, store
$37,650
operation, power)
from leasing cabins $267,000
tal)
ees $72,00
ds, 132 sites)
and Moorage fees $67,000
ng fees $37,00
s $1
Totalmaking about $61,618

26. Heyburn State Park
Critique The Good
-great source for being in close contact with nature
-preservation of the environment its focus
-good example of how dense housing should be to
preserve landscape and minimize disturbance
-trail system in the park is good
-diverse activity opportunities
-future projects are exciting
-financially successful
The Bad
-getting money from the state to support costs
- water system
-sewage system is just not good
-needs to be some sort of park ordinance stating what size of septic
tank should he had and how the waste is to be disposed of
-lacks variety of views and vistas of entire park

27. Purpose of Case Study
-to see how well humans and nature coexist
-to see how dense a built environment should be when building
multiple units in pristine areas
-to see how sustainable Heyburn is both ecologically and financially

28. Conclusion
-humans and nature do coexist.
-water quality is not good, as it always has been, showing what
happens when poor planning takes place and sensitivity to
environment isn’t had.
-wildlife seems comfortable coming into the built areas; ratio is
for every 1000 acres of land there should be about 1 acre of
intensely developed residential land
-income from fees and leasing alone is not enough to cover park’s
costs
-nothing was showing how sustainable the environment is with
developments in place; eutrophication an indicator that things are
not

29. Resources
ate Park General Development Plan;
Boise, Idaho; South La
990
hwander, Leon; Heyburn State Park Natural Resource Plan;
Moscow, Idaho; Univer

30. Special Thanks
red Bear, Park Manager of Heyburn State Park
&
rank Roberts, GIS Manager, Coeur d’ Alene Tribe