POCATELLO — The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes has recently asserted their claim of ownership of the City Creek Trailhead. However, there is some confusion over who actually owns the land.
According to a press release issued by the Tribes on Tuesday, a railroad right of way was granted by the Tribes in 1888. The right of way included land in the City Creek area because it provided water for steam engines that the railroad needed to operate. Back then, the current Pocatello area was part of the Fort Hall Reservation.
A condition the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, the U.S. Congress and the railroad company agreed upon at the time was that the land would be returned to the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes once it was no longer being used for railroad purposes.
According to the Tribes, the City Creek property in question, which is estimated at approximately 100 acres in size along Pocatello’s West Bench, reverted back to the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes once steam engines were replaced with internal combustion engines in the early 1900s.
However, in a press release issued on Wednesday, the Bureau of Land Management said that the land in question was relinquished to their agency in 2014.
“The BLM received a relinquishment of certain lands, formerly a railroad right of way, in the City Creek area from the Union Pacific Railroad in 2014,” the press release said. “The area remains open to the public while further reviews occur.”
On the other hand, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes said they received a notice of land relinquishment from the Union Pacific Railroad in 1989. In 2012, the U.S. Department of Interior informed the Tribes, the Union Pacific Railroad and the city of Pocatello in writing that the area had reverted back to the Tribes.
Attorneys with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes said they have not seen any adverse claims of ownership from the federal government regarding the City Creek Trailhead.
BLM said it is reviewing the matter, but in the meantime both the federal government and the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes said the City Creek area will be open to all trail enthusiasts. In Tuesday’s press release, the Tribes said “it was excited to begin enhancing the City Creek Trailhead area to better preserve plant and animal life, and improve responsible access for hikers and bikers.”
Officials with Shoshone-Bannock Tribes also said it will not charge fees to use the trails.
Recently, the Tribes installed signs at City Creek with the words “Property of Shoshone-Bannock Tribes” listed on them. The Tribes said they erected the signs to improve safety in the area and to improve the dialogue between Pocatello city officials and tribal officials.
However, two of the signs have been vandalized.
“The signage will not limit any access to the recreational users,” said Blaine Edmo, chairman of the Fort Hall Business Council, in a written statement. “We are looking forward to cooperating with users of the City Creek Trailhead area to provide for continued safe, responsible, environmentally sensitive use of the area.”
Randy’L Teton, the spokesperson for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, said the reason the Tribes have decided to publicly assert their claim to ownership of the City Creek Trailhead is due to safety concerns in the area.
“Earlier this year we had a lady getting run over by a bike, and there’s been incidents where families don’t feel safe taking their kids up there because bikers are zooming past so quickly,” she said. “We’re listening to the people and letting them know that we are here and that the Tribe is offering their services to improve safety.”
In response, officials with the City of Pocatello issued a statement on Wednesday saying that they were under the impression that BLM owned the property at the City Creek Trailhead.
“If it is determined that the land is owned by the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, we look forward to working with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes to maintain one of the area’s gems and ensuring its continued enjoyment by East Idahoans for years to come,” the statement read.
