Mountain Home Ranger District Boise National Forest
Forest/District Information: There currently are 6 administrative units on the Forest: Mountain Home, Idaho City, Lowman, Cascade, and Emmett Ranger Districts and the Lucky Peak Nursery. As one of the five Ranger Districts in the Boise National Forest, the Mountain Home Ranger District is the southern most district at about 650,000 acres in size. Comprising the seventh largest National Forest in the United States, the Boise National Forest’s 2.6 million acres provide diverse opportunities in resource management. The Mountain Home Ranger District is located in close proximity to Boise, Idaho and includes administration of Capitol City front range lands. The District has a robust program of work that covers vegetation management, recreation, range, wildlife, fisheries, watershed, fire and fuels, noxious weeds, minerals, and special uses. The District has about 30 permanent employees and typically hires 20 to 30 seasonal employees annually.
The District is very diverse and mountainous and transitions from desert at the lower elevations, through ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir forests, to high alpine (9700 feet). The highest drivable point in Idaho is located on the district at Trinity Lookout. The district and nearby areas provide a diversity of recreational opportunities including 20 plus lakes, 4 major reservoirs, Bogus Basin Ski Area, Boise River, Rocky Bar Historic Mining District, Danskin Motorized trail system, and the Trinity Mountain Recreation Area.
The District experienced expansive wildfires during 1992, 1994, and 1996 and continues to monitor reforestation and stand improvement needs.
Mountain Home, Idaho: Mountain Home is located between the Danskin and Owyhee Mountains in southwest Idaho with a population of over 15,000 and is the county seat for Elmore County. The Mountain Home Air Force Base located 10 miles west of town contributes considerably to the diversity of the community and its economy. Mountain Home has a strong sense of family values and community, as evidenced in our local events, including Air Force Appreciation Day, one of the Idaho's largest parades. Mountain Home is a rapidly growing community that maintains a small town feel.
The Snake River as well as the remote and secluded Bruneau Canyon area is located south of Mountain Home. Visitors and residents alike enjoy our abundant local recreational activities including hiking, camping, fishing, backpacking, motorcycle and snowmobile trails and hunting to name a few. The Mountain Home School District is located in Mountain Home, ID and includes 9 schools that serve 4,127 students in grades PK through 12.
Boise, Idaho (Capital City) is 45 miles from Mountain Home and offers the services and amenities of the largest city in the State of Idaho. Many district employees commute from Boise daily. The population of Boise is approximately 214,490, with an additional 280,000 in the surrounding metropolitan area. An international airport, shopping, colleges, and universities, and a variety of cultural and sporting events are readily accessible and available. Boise has 34 grade schools, 9 junior high schools, and 5 high schools. Several large regional, national, and international companies are headquartered in the “Treasure Valley”, including Simplot, Micron Technologies, and Hewlett-Packard. Two large medical regional centers (St. Luke’s and St. Alphonsus) are also located here. Housing prices begin in the $180,000’s. Rental prices begin at $500 (1 bedroom apt) and at $900 (house). Boise the capital and largest city of the State of Idaho, is the hub of commerce, banking and government for the state.
Located along the Boise River and nestled against foothills of the Rocky Mountains, our city offers many outdoor activities to local residents, from skiing at Bogus Basin Ski Resort to biking on the Boise River Greenbelt to boating at nearby reservoirs. The Boise area has it all - desert, rivers, mountains and lakes for hiking, camping, kayaking, river rafting, hunting and fishing.
Climate: Annual precipitations in Mountain Home averages about 10 inches/year with most occurring from late fall to spring. Total annual snowfall averages about 11 inches with most occurring in December and January. Elmore County averages 80 to 85 percent sunny days during the months of July and August. On the average there are 55 days a year that are 90 degrees (F) or above.
Schools: Mountain Home has one public high school. Elementary and middle schools are abundant.
Medical Facilities: The Elmore Medical Center is a 28 – bed facility with an emergency room and Life Flight capabilities.
Shopping: Shopping is limited in Mountain Home, but all basics are available. There is a Wal-mart, several grocery stores, a couple of building supply stores and numerous small businesses. It is a 40-minute drive to an abundance of shopping opportunities in Boise.
Major Employers: Local, county, and federal governments and school districts are the major employers. Construction, farming/ranching, service industries, and tourism are the primary private-sector employment sources.
Housing: No government housing is available. The medium home price (2007) is about $120,770 and the median rent is $622 per month.
Other Information: http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/boise/ http://www.mountainhomechamber.com/ http://www.americantowns.com/id/mountainhome
For information on Boise go to: http://www.boise.org/