The Boise Foothills Serial Levy has helped to protect 10,300 acres of sensitive and undeveloped open space.

The levy was passed by 59% of Boise voters on May 22, 2001. The approval raised $10 million for conservation efforts in the Boise Foothills. Beginning in November 2001, the City included the two-year levy in property taxes for commercial, residential and industrial property. The total value of the undeveloped property has a market vaule of over $34 million dollars, making the voter-approval of this levy a landmark event.

The levy authorized the protection of Foothills property as public open space through acquisition, donation, conservation easement, or land exchange. To manage the levy funds, the city formed the Foothills Conservation Advisory Committee, whose 12 volunteer citizens make recommendations to the Mayor and City Council for permanent protection of natural open space in the Foothills and work to ensure that the levy funds are spent wisely.

Since early 2010, the Foothills preservation effort has grown by more than 2,100 acres with the acquisition of critical open space in the Stack Rock, Hammer Flat and Polecat Gulch areas. Properties are considered for protection with a focus on protecting critical habitat, riparian corridors, rare plants, historic sites, and potential trail connections. Boiseans continue to support the passage of this levy and honored it in May 2011 with 10th anniversary celebrations.