The acquisition of two parcels of land near Cougar Bay, in Idaho, will give the public access to the area and preserve the land from development, according to a Bureau of Land Management press release.

This area of land on the west side of Lake Coeur d’Alene is mostly undeveloped and offers diverse wildlife habitat including wetlands and rich, conifer forests, the press release said. 

"The area is a hidden gem of undeveloped forests and wetlands offering nearly 3 miles of foot trails to hikers and glimpses of Lake Coeur d'Alene from the treed hillsides," the Bureau of Land Management of Idaho posted on its Facebook page. 

"We have enjoyed a long-standing partnership with The Nature Conservancy in the conservation of lands in Cougar Bay," Kurt Pindel, BLM’s Coeur d’Alene District Manager said in a press release. "We are very grateful to The Nature Conservancy for working with us to secure perpetual public access and conserve important habitat for wildlife and migratory birds." 

The BLM used $1.6 million in Land and Water Conservation Funds to secure the transaction, the release stated. 

The bureau also manages the adjacent 155-acre John C. Pointner Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary. 

Cougar Bay is a popular destination to explore wetlands, lakeshore and forest hillsides. Through the acquisition, the BLM will acquire an additional mile of hiking trails and formal public access to nearly a mile of the lakeshore, according to a KXLY News article.