Bank of the Cascades Sells Land in Support of Idaho Foothills Conservation

Trail access to polecat gulch is in the future for Idaho residents

Bank of the Cascades has partnered with Mayor David Bieter and the Boise City Council to preserve 154 acres of property in the Northwest Boise Foothills. The City has purchased the Bank land using Foothills Serial Levy Funds.

“We are honored to be part of the City’s efforts to protect the Boise foothills,” said Mike Mooney, Executive Vice President and Idaho Regional Manager for Bank of the Cascades. “This is much more than a business transaction to us. It’s an investment in our community. Our team is committed to embracing opportunities that enhance the quality of life for all who live in the Treasure Valley.”

The city acquired the open space at the end of Collister Street on December 19 , protecting a bountiful population of rare Aase’s Onion and providing needed trail access to the popular Polecat Gulch Reserve.

“This high-priority addition to our Foothills conservation effort not only will preserve a rare native plant, it will allow needed trailhead access to Polecat Gulch Reserve for all Boise residents,” said Mayor Bieter. “We appreciate the patience of trail users who have anxiously awaited access to this popular area in the Northwest Foothills.”

The two-year serial levy generated $10 million for the protection of open space in the Boise Foothills. The City Council and the Foothills Conservation Advisory Committee, which makes recommendations to the Mayor and Council on land acquisitions, considered this property the number one priority for potential acquisition and are very pleased to have achieved a successful acquisition.

By leveraging the serial levy and other sources of funding, the Foothills Conservation Advisory Committee and the City have protected 10,489 acres of land through acquisition, donation, conservation easement or land exchange.  With $3.7 million remaining in the Levy fund, the City will continue to focus on the protection of critical wildlife habitat, riparian corridors, rare plants, historic sites and development of potential trail connections.

About Cascade Bancorp and Bank of the Cascades

Cascade Bancorp (NASDAQ: CACB), headquartered in Bend, Oregon, and its wholly owned subsidiary, Bank of the Cascades, operate in Oregon and Idaho markets. Founded in 1977, Bank of the Cascades offers full-service community banking through 31 branches in Central Oregon, Southern Oregon, Portland/Salem, and Boise/Treasure Valley. The Bank has a business strategy that focuses on delivering the best in community banking for the financial well-being of customers and shareholders. It executes its strategy through the consistent delivery of full relationship banking focused on attracting and retaining value-driven customers. For further information, please visit our website at www.botc.com.