The Whitman County Commissioners have banned camping where a homeless camp has emerged along the Snake River.
The board unanimously approved the ordinance following a public hearing on Monday morning. No one testified during the hearing.
The camping ban is for the county right of way along 27 miles of Wawawai Road between the state line and Wawawai County Park. A homeless camp with several campers, vehicles and tents has popped up along the road near the Port of Wilma. There have been two fires in the camp this Summer. People who violate the ban would face a possible trespassing charge. You can listen to Commissioner Michael Largent explain his vote by clicking on the audio file below.
The ordinance notes that the area is popular for recreation and that there is legal camping nearby on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers property and Wawawai County Park. The law also points out that the pullouts where the encampments are located are not intended for camping.
The camping ban takes effect today.