MERIT AWARD

Represents superior accomplishment in the profession of landscape architecture.

Seven Mile Ranch in Bear Lake County, Idaho

Located immediately south of St. Charles, Idaho, on the western shoreline of Bear Lake, Seven Mile Ranch is a master-planned resort community located at Idaho mile post 7 on highway 89, developed specifically to provide residents access to Bear Lake and the recreational opportunities of the surrounding area.

SUMMARY

Bear Lake, long a well-known secret to residents of Utah and Idaho, is gaining notoriety for its clear blue water and numerous outdoor recreational opportunities. These attributes have attracted development along the west shoreline and foothills of the lake, which has been increasing over time. Some of that development detracts from the natural beauty and traditional agricultural character of the area. Seven Mile Ranch aims to be a model of development that preserves the cultural and natural character of the area, giving residents the Bear Lake experience enjoyed by generations while enhancing value for the property owner. To accomplish this, the master plan maximizes the abundant natural and proposed resources on site by: preserving existing agricultural land and keeping it in production; organizing the pond as a recreation/transportation route and increasing the lots with water frontage; utilizing the pond for storm water detention and cleaning, irrigation supply, and groundwater impoundment while providing habitat; and structuring lots, roads, and homes around the open space and pond amenities.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

• Agricultural Preservation and Cultural Stewardship

• Low Density Development / Maximizing Client Value

• Recreational Opportunity

• Pond and Water Management