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University of Idaho envisions largest research dairy in US
Associated Press, 8-18-22
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The University of Idaho wants to build the nation’s largest research dairy and experimental farm in south-central Idaho, the geographical heart of the sector.
University President Scott Green and school officials in a presentation to Gov. Brad Little and other members of the Idaho Land Board on Tuesday said the proposed Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment, or CAFE, will help support growth of the dairy and other industries.
“CAFE will be a leader (for) water usage and environmental quality challenges while supporting the continued growth of the dairy, livestock, cropland and food processing industries,” Green told the board.
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*UPDATED* Quinn Fire in Idaho County Grows to 450 Acres, Remains 0% Contained.
Big Country News, 8-18-22
**UPDATED STORY (8/18/22)**
As of 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, the Quinn Fire, which is located on the breaks of Wolf Creek in the Joseph Plains area of Idaho County, was last estimated at 450 acres in size. Official containment of the fire remains at 0%.
There are currently no structures threatened, no evacuations in place, and no road closures.
The Quinn Fire was first reported late Tuesday afternoon and is burning in grass and timber in steep and rugged terrain. The fire is believed to be human-caused.
According to the Idaho County Sheriff's Office, first responding crews reported a suspicious male in the area of the fire at the time of dispatch. After receiving that information, the ICSO responded and made contact with the male, who was identified as 41-year-old Anthony Morreale, of Challis, ID. Morreale was ultimately arrested and charged with arson.
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Valley will not seek protection for Cougar Island
Star-News, 8-18-22
Valley County commissioners on Monday denied a request by the McCall City Council to require an environmental study of Cougar Island in Payette Lake before any new development occurs.
Commissioners denied the request amid legal fears of interfering with an auction of the island planned for Sept. 14 in Eagle by the Idaho Department of Lands.
“I think that would affect the auction values and could lead to liabilities from the state,” commission Chair Elt Hasbrouck said.
Commissioners Sherry Maupin and Ed Allen said it was too late to require the study, citing a 2014 plat by the state that carved five lots out of the 14.2-acre island.
“The board does not believe that this designation does anything to protect Cougar Island,” Maupin said. “This type of designation should be made before, not after, a plat is completed.”
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State sets Cougar Island auction for Sept. 14
Star-News, 8-18-22
Cougar Island in Payette Lake will be sold at auction on Wednesday, Sept. 14 by the Idaho Department of Lands.
The auction is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. in the Waters Edge Event Center at 287 E. Shore Dr. in Eagle.
The minimum bid for the entire 14.2-acre island has been set at $8.8 million. The island will also be offered as five lots.
Jim Laski, a Bellevue attorney, is the current lessee of the only lot on the island with a home built on it.
The minimum bid for Laski’s 2.5-acre lot is about $2 million. If Laski’s bid is not successful, the winning bidder must pay him about $1.6 million for the value of his home.
Laski told the McCall City Council last week that he is “skeptical” he will be able to place the winning bid for the cottage site he has leased from the state for nearly 10 years.
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Opinion: Valley takes correct course on Cougar Is.
Star-News, 8-18-22
Valley County commissioners took the correct course by not trying to throw a wrench into works for the Sept. 14 auction of Cougar Island, even though it seems to be a reversal of their previous statements on preserving the island.
On Monday, commissioners declined a request by the McCall City Council to designate Cougar Island as an “area of critical concern,” a provision in zoning law that effectively slaps a moratorium on development of an area until an extensive environmental study is done. The commissioners took the action even though they sent an impassioned letter to the Idaho Department of Lands in May asking that the auction be halted. The auction would result in a “degradation of the resources we value and a way of life we envision remaining in perpetuity,” the letter said.
So why the seeming reversal in attitude? The reasons are sound. Such a move could complicate the state’s auction by injecting uncertainty in the minds of potential bidders on what they would be getting if they were successful. Such doubt could result in lower bids or bidders avoiding the auction altogether. Since proceeds from the auction benefit the state, that would be counter to the intent of the sale.
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Cougar Island buyer could run afoul of McCall zoning laws
Star-News, 8-18-22
Given the rising costs of land everywhere, someone from outside of Idaho may believe that the $10.3 million-dollar minimum price tag for Cougar Island is a bargain. That is if they don’t take a look at the details.
The Idaho Department of Lands plans to auction Cougar Island on Sept. 14 and it is within its rights to do so, However, the buyer must be aware of what they are buying.
The island is in the area of impact of the City of McCall, and once private it will be the city and county who will ultimately rule on what can and cannot be built there.
Although the IDL has divided the island into five plats, the city zoning is rural residential, i.e., 1 house per 10 acres, and the island is only 14.2 acres. You do the math.
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Going back to sewage in Payette Lake must be a non-starter
Star-News, 8-18-22
Cougar Island, and other endowment lands around Payette Lake, put the governor in a conflicted position - a choice between protecting the lake and making money - or maybe both, if he chooses.
In 1925, the Idaho legislature sought to protect Payette Lake by enacting “Preservation of certain lakes as Health Resorts and Recreation Places,” found in Idaho code, title 67, chapter 43.
It directed the governor to hold in trust the waters of Payette Lake for the people, to preserve the lake in its “present condition” at the time of enactment.
The intent was broad and clear, not just about the volume of water, but that, “for scenic beauty, health and recreation purposes necessary and desirable for all the inhabitants of the state is hereby declared to be a beneficial use of such water”.
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Man Suspected of Starting Wildfire in Joseph Plains Area of Idaho County Arrested for Arson
Big Country News, 8-17-22
IDAHO COUNTY - On Tuesday, August 16, 2022, at around 9:00 p.m., U.S. Forest Service Dispatch notified Idaho County deputies of a suspicious male in the area of Wolf Creek, off of Joseph Plains in Idaho County after fire crews were called to a wildfire in the area.
According to the Idaho County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded and made contact with the individual, who was identified as 41-year-old Anthony Morreale, of Challis, ID.
Deputies determined Morreale to be the person who started the fire, and he was arrested for arson, malicious injury to property, possession of marijuana and cited for trespassing.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the 'Quinn Fire' was estimated at 300 acres and is 0% contained, according to the Idaho Department of Lands. The fire is burning in grass and timber in steep and rugged terrain.
41-Year-Old Arrested For Allegedly Starting Joseph Plains Fire
DailyFly, 8-17-22
On August 16, around 9:00 p.m., Forest Service Dispatch called in about a suspicious male who was in the area of Wolf Creek, off of Joseph Plains. Forest Service crews had been called to a fire in the area.
Idaho County deputies responded and determined Anthony Morreale, age 41, of Challis, Idaho had started the fire.
Morreale was arrested for arson, malicious injury to property, possession of marijuana, and cited for trespassing.
State freezes endowment payments for public schools, other beneficiaries
Idaho Education News, 8-17-22
Idaho will freeze next year’s endowment payments to public schools and other beneficiaries, in the face of market volatility.
The state Land Board approved the 2023-24 payments Tuesday, making no changes from this year’s record awards.
Here’s a breakdown of next year’s $100.3 million payments, which go into effect July 1:
- Public schools: $61.5 million.
- State Hospital South: $7.6 million.
- University of Idaho, School of Science: $6.7 million.
- University of Idaho: $5.9 million.
- Idaho State University normal school: $3.3 million.
- Lewis-Clark State College normal school: $3.3 million.
- State prison: $3.1 million.
- University of Idaho, College of Agriculture: $1.9 million.
- Idaho State University: $1.9 million.
- Juvenile corrections: $1.9 million.
- State Hospital North: 1.9 million.
- State veterans’ hospital: $1.2 million.
- Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind: $233,600.
The freeze comes after a trying year on the market.
The state’s endowment fund investment portfolio lost 13% of its value in 2021-22 — after nearly 30% in gains the previous year.
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More than 600,000 tree seedlings planted after insects kill trees in Idaho forest
Idaho Press, 8-17-22
BOISE — Converting an all-but-dead timberland at risk of significant wildfire into a strong future forest is a massive undertaking, but the Idaho Department of Lands is one step closer to achieving that in the Packer John State Forest. This spring 610,300 seedlings were planted over nearly 2,000 acres. Now those baby trees are growing thanks to a nearly $300,000 grant from the Arbor Day Foundation.
A major Douglas-fir tussock moth infestation peaked in Packer John in 2019 and was the final blow to the forest’s health after several years of drought and previous insect damage. This was also devastating for Idaho Public Schools, as these schools are the owners/beneficiaries of the land and the funding grown out of timber. The forest was made up mainly of Douglas-fir, subalpine fir, and grand fir, which are susceptible to tussock moth damage.
With that in mind, the Idaho Department of Lands was quick to sell the damaged timber for wood products in what are called salvage sales. That made it possible to get as much value out of the trees as possible, as well as remove the significant wildfire risk.
IDL Fire Crews Battling 300 Acre Fire in Joseph Plains Area of Idaho County
Big Country News, 8-17-22
DAHO COUNTY - The Idaho Department of Lands is battling a 300 acre wildfire on the breaks of Wolf Creek in the Joseph Plains area of Idaho County. According to the IDL, the fire, which has been named the 'Quinn Fire,' was first reported late Tuesday afternoon and is burning in grass and timber in steep and rugged terrain.
As of Wednesday afternoon, there are 5 engines and 1 crew working on the fire, totaling approximately 30 personnel. Aircraft working on the fire includes 3 helicopters and 4 single engine air tankers (SEATs) coordinated by an Air Attack. Two additional crews and 1 bulldozer have also been dispatch to the fire.
The fire is in the Craig Mountain Fire Protection District of the IDL. Current containment is at 0%.
Idaho auctions 10 Priest Lake lots for $24,542,000
KOZE, 8-17-22
The Idaho Department of Lands recently sold 10 endowment-owned lake front lots at Priest Lake for deeded ownership during a public auction that allowed participants to bid online or in-person.
The public auction generated more than $24.5 million which is more than $14 million over the appraised value. It included one parcel that was purchased at 779% over the appraised value by the lessee for $9.8 million. Of the 10 properties sold, seven had competitive bidding and three had only one bid. The competitive bidding resulted in a 134% overall increase above the appraised value.
The Idaho Constitution requires a public auction for the sale of state endowment trust lands, and IDL can accept no less than the appraised value of the properties.
Tags: IDL, Priest Lake Lot Auctions
McCall council designates Cougar Island an Area of Critical Concern ahead of state auction
BoiseDev, 8-16-22
McCall City Council voted to designate Cougar Island in Payette Lake as an Area of Critical Concern.
This comes as the Idaho Department of Lands plans to auction the 14.21-acre site to the highest bidder. City Council said the island’s minimum bid was $10.5 million.
Back in July, the council drafted a letter to the Valley County Commissioners asking that they take legal action to stop the auction and preserve the endowment lands. The commissioners have since written back to the council in support, leading to the unanimous vote to designate the island as an Area of Critical Concern. This designation triggers environmental impact assessment requirements that city council must review before there can be any proposed development applications.
Council also gave direction to staff to put together an emergency ordinance prohibiting the issuance of building permits and land use approvals on Cougar Island until a code is adopted that regulates waste disposal from islands on the lake.
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Idaho Lands Endowment Funding for Schools, Colleges and More to Remain Steady
Big Country News, 8-16-22
BOISE - The Idaho Board of Land Commissioners today approved distributing $100.3 million to endowment beneficiaries in Fiscal Year 2024. This distribution mirrors the amount distributed this fiscal year, which represented a new record.
The economy over the past year created challenges in the investment portfolio, due in part to the Federal Reserve increasing interest rates to slow inflation. The endowment fund investment portfolio lost 13.0% in Fiscal Year 2022 after gains of 29.7% in Fiscal Year 2021.
The Land Board was able to maintain the Fiscal Year 2024 distribution at record levels because of its strategy to hold investment reserves sufficient to weather periods of financial market volatility and because of strong earnings from timber sales on endowment land.
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Idaho auctions 10 Priest Lake lots for $24,542,000
KIFI, 8-16-22
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (KIFI) - The Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) sold 10 endowment-owned lake front lots at Priest Lake for deeded ownership during a public auction that allowed participants to bid online or in-person.
The public auction generated $24,542,000 which is $14,050,000 over the appraised value. It included one parcel that was purchased at 779% over the appraised value by the lessee for $9,800,000. Of the 10 properties sold, seven had competitive bidding and three had only one bid. The competitive bidding resulted in a 134% overall increase above the appraised value.
The Idaho Constitution requires a public auction for the sale of state endowment trust lands, and IDL can accept no less than the appraised value of the properties.
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No increase in endowment distributions to Idaho schools next year
Idaho Press, 8-16-22
Distributions to schools and other beneficiaries from the state endowment will be frozen next year at this year’s level, due to investment losses in the fund in the fiscal year that ended June 30.
That means total distributions from the endowment in fiscal year 2024 will be $100.3 million, with $61.5 million going to Idaho’s K-12 public schools, the same amount they’re receiving this year.
Chris Anton, manager of investments for the state’s Endowment Fund Investment Board, said the board recommended keeping distributions flat next year.
“The rationale for this is that earnings reserves are below target levels, we still are facing a significant inflation hurdle, and financial markets are expected to remain volatile given the uncertainty surrounding our ability to fight inflation without pushing us into a recession,” he told the state Land Board on Tuesday.
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Lions Roar Fire 100% contained
Bonner County Daily Bee, 8-16-22
PRIEST LAKE — The Lions Roar Fire near Priest Lake is completely contained and control returned to the local Idaho Department of Lands district.
"[However,] the public can expect to see occasional smoke from the fire area as internal heavy fuels will continue to smolder," IDL officials said in a press release Monday.
Excess firefighting resources on the Lions Roar Fire were released for assignment to other fires or any potential new fires in the area. Backhauling of equipment will continue as crews continue to mop up spot fires and command transfers back to the Priest Lake IDL fire district.
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Over 600,000 seedlings planted in Idaho’s Packer John State Forest
Idaho Capital Sun, 8-15-22
After receiving nearly $300,000 from a grant through the Arbor Day Foundation, the Idaho Department of Lands was able to plant 610,300 new trees over 2,000 acres in the Packer John State Forest in Valley County.
Years of insect infestations and drought had already damaged the forest, but the ruined lumber was sold for salvage after an invasion of Douglas-fir tussock moths in 2019, according to a Department of Lands press release.
The grant was given to the Department of Lands due to the uniqueness of the project, where a forest susceptible to insects has been replaced with species that will be able to restore the site to a healthy forest. The press release stated the destruction of the forest had a negative impact on Idaho public schools because the schools are the owners and beneficiaries of the land and funding from the timber.
The trees of the area, which consisted of Douglas fir, subalpine fir and grand fir, have been replaced with tree species like ponderosa pine and western larch that aren’t as susceptible to tussock moth damage. Nearly all of the trees in the salvaged areas were sold for lumber, leaving lots of room to grow for the new seedlings. Crews from Alpha Services were able to plant an average of 63,000 trees a day with 32 planters and three foremen.
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Fire wardens limit number of burn permits as Idaho faces dangerous fire conditions
Idaho Capital Sun, 8-15-22
Rising temperatures over the past few weeks have placed all of Idaho in high or very high fire danger conditions, according to an Idaho Department of Lands press release. Now, fire wardens across the state are limiting state burn permits through the department, which are being issued until Oct. 20 this year, according to the release.
Burn permits are required for people living outside city limits to use burn barrels and to burn yard waste or piles of debris from timber. Fire danger conditions, weather, smoke levels and air quality are taken into account during the permit process. Most permits are being limited to crop residue burning, according to the press release.
While the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality is the agency that approves crop residue burning, the Department of Lands can temporarily prohibit it when safety is a concern. The agencies are working together to allow crop residue burning when it is safe to do so. Crop burning permits will not be approved by the Department of Environmental Quality unless the Department of Lands is allowing them to be issued.
Growers can apply for a crop residue burning permit on the Department of Environmental Quality’s website. A state burn permit can be applied for on the Department of Land’s website.
Lightning storms keep fire crews busy
Shoshone News Press,8-15-22
Another round of lightning storms that recently pushed through the Inland Northwest were responsible for several wildfires kicking up across the local area.
In Shoshone County, Idaho Department of Lands-Cataldo Fire Warden Chris Myers tells the News-Press that fire crews identified four separate fires in its district on Sunday following the Friday weather.
With a two-day gap between ignition and discovery, Myers said it’s not uncommon for wildfires to gather strength and slowly increase in size.
“That storm was fairly wet,” he said. “It’ll cool things off, slow it down a little bit, and make it hard for the fire to spread into other fuels; but if it has enough where it’s at, it’ll sit there and smolder indefinitely until it either goes out or starts burning like it did (Sunday). Some fires can sit there for weeks sometimes and not make enough smoke to be seen.”
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Firefighters make progress against Lion's Roar Fire near Priest Lake
KHQ, 8-14-22
PRIEST LAKE, Idaho - Idaho Department of Lands states good progress was made Saturday by crews working to contain the Lion's Roar Fire, which has been burning in an active logging job since Aug. 8.
"Firefighters had a very successful day on the fire yesterday, even as afternoon winds tested firelines," IDL said in an update.
As of Sunday morning, the fire was 75% contained, with full containment expected by the end of the day.
An Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) with an infrared camera was used to detect heat in and around the fire, which allowed managers and crews to quickly locate and extinguish any hot spots before they could become active fires around the perimeter.
IDAHO: Lake cottages put on international market is a crime
Coeur d'Alene, 8-14-22
Recently, there was a story about a proposed storage facility with possible Chinese financing. Whether or not that is true, there are alarm bells that go off.
My cousin spent some time in American Samoa. I read about the Chinese taking over these islands in the Pacific with their soldiers. My cousin said that the Chinese come in and offer big loans to the governments of these islands. When the small island governments can’t repay the loans, the Chinese send their people in to literally take over the island and all its resources.
Dan Newhouse in Washington state is working against the Chinese who are buying large tracts of farmland. I understand that the Chinese are also investing heavily into luxury real estate and just real estate in general.
This must stop. The fact that the precious lake cottages of Idaho are put on the international market by Idaho Department of Lands is a crime. We cannot allow foreigners to buy up this country. The fact that these lands are auctioned at all is a crime but that’s another letter.
DONNA HARVEY
Hayden
Fire wardens limit number of burn permits as Idaho faces dangerous fire situation
Idaho News, 8-14-22
According to the Idaho Department of Lands press release, rising temperatures over the past few weeks have put all of Idaho at a high or very high fire risk status. Now, states through the Department of Fire Wardens across the state are limiting burn permits, which are being issued by October 20 this year, according to the release.
A burn permit is required for people living outside city limits to use charred barrels and to burn piles of debris from yard waste or wood. Fire hazard conditions, weather, smoke levels and air quality are taken into account during the permit process. According to the press release, most permits are limited to crop residue burning.
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More than 600,000 tree seedlings planted after insects kill trees in Idaho forest
Big Country News, 8-13-22
BOISE — Converting an all-but-dead timberland at risk of significant wildfire into a strong future forest is a massive undertaking, but the Idaho Department of Lands is one step closer to achieving that in the Packer John State Forest. This spring 610,300 seedlings were planted over nearly 2,000 acres. Now those baby trees are growing thanks to a nearly $300,000 grant from the Arbor Day Foundation.
A major Douglas-fir tussock moth infestation peaked in Packer John in 2019 and was the final blow to the forest’s health after several years of drought and previous insect damage. This was also devastating for Idaho Public Schools, as these schools are the owners/beneficiaries of the land and the funding grown out of timber. The forest was made up mainly of Douglas-fir, subalpine fir, and grand fir, which are susceptible to tussock moth damage.
With that in mind, the Idaho Department of Lands was quick to sell the damaged timber for wood products in what are called salvage sales. That made it possible to get as much value out of the trees as possible, as well as remove the significant wildfire risk.
All trees within the salvage sale areas were harvested except for ponderosa pine and spruce trees which are not preferred by tussock moth. Those species make up a small percentage of trees within the harvest areas, leaving a mostly blank canvas for a new forest. The new trees will be more ponderosa pine and western larch.
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Employees make profit on Lions Roar Fire
Idaho News, 8-13-22
The construction of a handline and perimeter plumbing has helped firefighters control the Lions Roar fire by up to 25 percent.
In addition, officials with the Idaho Department of Lands said GPS mapping gave them a more accurate mapping of the fire, resulting in a 45-acre reduction in size.
Infrared mapping was used to locate and locate areas of heat in and around Saturday’s fire.
“This information will help fire managers and fire crews to locate and extinguish hot spots near handlines and ensure that the operation is successful,” IDL officials said in a press release. [unmanned aircraft system] The spot was also used to inspect the surrounding areas for fire.”
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Fire crews make strides against Lions Roar Fire
Coeur d'Alene Press, 8-13-22
PRIEST LAKE — Fire crews have been successful in holding the Lions Roar Fire within its approximate 55-acre perimeter, Idaho Department of Lands officials said Friday.
The fire, which was reported Aug. 8, is burning in an active logging job with a timber and logging slash fuel source.
"Progress was made towards connecting handline around the fire and is about 75% complete," IDL officials said Friday in a press release.
In addition, a medium helicopter was used to deliver water to areas of the fire that are experiencing increased fire behavior.
Firefighters are working to complete the handline and reinforce it with pumps and hoses. However, IDL officials noted the National Weather Service is again calling for afternoon and evening thunderstorms with the chances of extreme weather conditions and lightning.
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Fire prevention top priority for IDL and DEQ
KIFI, 8-12-22
BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) - As the temperatures have risen over the past couple of weeks, so has the fire danger, with all of Idaho currently under a High or Very High fire danger.
The Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) are reminding the public state burn permit restrictions are in effect to help reduce the threat of wildfire and smoke impacts.
State Burn Permits are issued between May 10 and October 20 through IDL and are required for those living outside city limits who wish to use burn barrels, burn yard waste or piles of debris from a timber harvest known as slash. The permitting process considers fire danger conditions, weather, as well as smoke and air quality.
Due to current weather and fire conditions, IDL Fire Wardens are restricting burn permits across Idaho, with most not allowing anything except burning crop residue. DEQ and IDL coordinate closely to ensure that crop residue burning is allowed when fire safety and air quality is protected.
Growers wishing to burn crop residue, outside tribal reservation boundaries, receive both the IDL fire safety burn permit and DEQ air quality permit from a single location: https://www.deq.idaho.gov/air-quality/smoke-and-burning/crop-residue-burning/
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Timber Sale
Posted August 19, 2022
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We harvest and plant trees to support Idaho’s public schools and other beneficiaries. On 9/22 we’ll sell at auction 12.7 million board feet of timber at our St. Joe Supervisory Area office. Learn more about the Second Goat Cedar Timber Sale at https://loom.ly/lx3h19k
Sign up to receive text or email notifications about our upcoming timber sales: https://loom.ly/gF68oEA
Quinn Fire
Posted August 18, 2022
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Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) is fighting a fire on the breaks of Wolf Creek in the Joseph Plains area. The fire was reported late yesterday afternoon and is currently estimated at approximately 300 acres. The fire is in steep and rugged terrain burning in grass and timber.
Currently there are 5 engines and 1 crew working on the fire, totaling approximately 30 personnel. Aircraft working on the fi…
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