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University of Idaho/United Payette Survey Results - November 2025
Valley County residents have weighed regarding their concerns about the future of the state endowment lands that surround a majority of the lakes. The results of this survey conducted by the University of Idaho’s College of Natural Resources overwhelming support keeping these lands out of private ownership. Click the link below to see the survey results.
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KTVB, November 5, 2025: Survey results show Valley Councty residents in favor of an IDL land exchange to Forest Service
The forests and shoreline surrounding Payette Lake define this mountain community, and a new survey shows Valley County residents want to keep it that way.
United Payette, a coalition of organizations and individuals working to conserve endowment lands around Payette Lake and Little Payette Lake, surveyed nearly 6,700 Valley County residents this summer about a potential land exchange. More than 840 people responded.
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Valley Outlook November 3, 2025: ‘It’s bigger than Payette Lake’: Land exchange survey reports broad support, need for more information
Nearly all Valley County residents worry about the privatization of public lands surrounding Payette Lake, according to a recent survey conducted by a public lands advocacy group.
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Star News October 29, 2025. United Payette: 91% very or extremely concerned' about Payette Lake privatization
According to a recent survey, 91% of respondents in Valley County were very or extremely concerned that the state lands surrounding the Payette Lakes could be sold and privatization.
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United Payette launches survey
Published by the Star-News on Thursday, May 15th, 2025. Republished here with permission. United Payette will send out surveys to over 6,000 addresses across Valley County seeking public opinion on the prospect of future endowment lands management.
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Valley Outlook February 11, 2025: Lands near Payette Lake, Tamarack Resort at center of new land exchange proposal
More than 2,000 acres of state endowment land around Payette Lake would become part of the Payette National Forest under an exchange being negotiated by the Forest Service and the Idaho Department of Lands.
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McCall joins United Payette task force
The City of McCall will join a task force formed to evaluate proposals that would make state endowment lands around Payette Lake part of the Payette National Forest.
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United Payette to seek Shellworth lease – Island would be second recreational lease
Published by the Star-News on Thusday, Feb. 8th, 2024. Republished here with permission
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Conservation Groups Clean Up
Coverage of United Payette’s Public Lands Clean Up. Published by the Star-News in McCall on Sept. 13th. Republished here w/ permission.
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Valley County Commissioners protect Shellworth Island in Payette Lake
By the Idaho Conservation League. Sept. 7th, 2023
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Some of land in failed McCall land swap now being leased for public recreation
Published by and photo by BoiseDev on May 30th, 2023.
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Investment firm proposed buying this state land near McCall. Now it has a recreation lease
Published by the Idaho Statesman on May 30th, 2023.
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Recreational lease of public lands established around Payette Lake
Published by Boise State Public Radio on May 31st, 2023.
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Valley County and Idaho Department of Lands agree to lease terms on over 1,200 acres of Payette Endowment Lands
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State asks judge to throw out lingering Trident Holdings lawsuit over McCall land swap
Written by Don Day. Published in BoiseDev on Monday, February 27th, 2023. Photo: Don Day/BoiseDev
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Bellevue Man Closes On Cougar Island
This article was originally published in the Star-News in mcCall on Thursday, Dec. 15th, 2022. It is republished here with permission.
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Payette Land Trust Helps Close Cougar Island sale
This article was originally published in the Star-News in McCall on Thursday, Dec. 15th, 2022. It is republished here with permission.
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Valley: Payette L. quality, state lands linked
This article was originally published in the Star-News in McCAll on Thursday, October 20th. It is republished here with permission.
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State Sets Cougar Island Auction For Sept-14
This article was originally published in the Star-News in McCall on Thursday, August 18th. It is republished here with permission.
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LTE: Cougar Island Auction-Buyer Beware
This Letter to the Editor was originally published in the Star-News in McCall on Thursday, August 18th. It is republished here with permission.
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Opinion: McCall parries to IDL’s thrust on Cougar Island
This story was originally published in The Star-News in McCall on Thursday, July 21st, 2022. It is republished here with permission.
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State of Idaho Looking to Sell Exclusive Resort Island at Public Auction
This story was originally published in the Idaho Capital Sun on Thursday, June 30th.
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Land board rebuffs Valley County request to postpone auction
This story was originally published in The Star-News in McCall on Thursday, June 23 2022. It is republished here with permission.
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Idaho to sell ‘high-end’ island in Payette Lake near McCall
Written by Keith Ridler for the Associated Press. Published on Tuesday, June 21st, 2022.
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On the block: Land Board says it will auction McCall’s Cougar Island
Written by Don Day. Published in BoiseDev on Tuesday, June 21st.
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Valley Commissioners Oppose Cougar Island Sale
This story was originally published in The Star-News in McCall on Thursday, May 12th 2022. It is republished here with permission.
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Valley Co. Commission comes out against auction of Cougar Island in Payette Lake
Written by Don Day, Published in BoiseDev on Tuesday, May 3rd
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State looks to auction island in Payette Lake near McCall
By Don Day, BoiseDev
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Payette Lake Island to be Put on Auction Block: Cougar Island to be sold later this year by state
This story was originally published in The Star-News in McCall on Thursday, April 28, 2022. It is republished here with permission.
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United Payette continues effort to conserve McCall Endowment Lands
KIVI Channel 6 kivitv.com
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Watch 1.11.22 Webinar
Learn the latest about the Payette endowment lands, the outlook for 2022 and the importance of working on short-term, conservation-based safeguards for these lands while long-term, permanent solutions are explored. Photo credit: Angie Smith
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Press Release: Valley County and United Payette Sign MOU
Press Release about the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Valley County and United Payette
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Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
Signed MOU between Valley County and United Payette
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Valley County and United Payette come together to conserve endowment lands
Boisedev.com
Photo credit: Autum Robertson, BoiseDev
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New proposal for McCall endowment lands submitted
BoiseDev.com
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United Payette submits proposal for future of McCall endowment land
KIVI Channel 6
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State could swap endowment land around McCall to expand national forest
boisedev.com
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Coalition Proposes Conserving Lands Previously Targeted by Developer
Public News Service
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State officials kill attempt to revive McCall land swap
AP News
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United Payette Press Release: New Webpage, Logo, and Ongoing Work
UP Press Release
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Business, Environmental, Recreational Interests Join To Steer Management Of Endowment Lands
Boise State Public Radio
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New conservation group forms to protect McCall public land at stake in Trident swap
Idaho Statesman
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Broad new group forms to find ‘solutions’ to land at center of Trident McCall-area land swap proposal
BoiseDev