Sine Die!
At around noon yesterday the First Regular Session of the Sixty-seventh Idaho Legislature adjourned sine die. Sine die is Latin for "without a day" and notes the conclusion of a deliberative body like a state legislature without setting a date to reconvene.
Some state legislatures mark this day of adjournment with ceremony. In Idaho, the flags flying over the wings of the State Capitol occupied by the House and Senate are lowered.
Overall, IDL had a great legislative session. Our budget request was fully funded. Our legislation to update and improve Idaho's oil and gas statutes was signed into law. The stakeholder-sponsored bill to help IDL address recreational impacts on endowment land passed, too.
We succeeded because we worked as a team, and our team extended far beyond the employees of our agency. IDL is grateful for the support provided by the Land Board, their staff, the Idaho Legislators who sponsored or supported our bills, our industry partners, and the many stakeholders who stand with us.
What's next with the Recreation Bill
Senate Bill 1049 cleared the Senate on a vote of 25-9-1 and the House on a vote of 54-15-1. It was signed into law by Governor Little on March 20 and takes effect on July 1, 2023.
This stakeholder-sponsored bill curbs recreational impacts on endowment land. A diverse group of stakeholders, including the Idaho State ATV Association, Idaho Sportsmen, Idaho Recreation Council, Idaho Farm Bureau Federation and Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association developed the legislation.
This legislation was sponsored in the Senate by Senator Mark Harris and in the House by Representative Jerald Raymond.
Earlier this week staff met to begin implementing SB1049. Implementation will occur in three phases.
Phase 1 - Rulemaking
This month IDL will ask the Land Board to allow the department to engage in negotiated rulemaking. The legislation requires rulemaking to specify prohibited activities on endowment land that are subject to a warning ticket for minor first offenses, with second violations under the statute being punished with an infraction and $250 fine.
Phase 2 - Internal Processes and Training
The legislation protects citizens' due process rights by requiring the department to post visible signage in the area where recreation use restrictions may apply, publish the restrictions on the agency’s website, and make the information available at the Department’s nearest Supervisory Area office. Defining the internal processes we use and training staff will occur in May and June while the rulemaking proceeds.
Phase 3 - Public Education and Outreach
When the legislation takes effect on July 1, IDL will launch a public information and education campaign designed to maximize the deterrent effect of the new law. This campaign will be ongoing.
Critchfield to Visit IDL Area Offices
On Wednesday, April 19, Land Board member Superintendent Debbie Critchfield will visit IDL's Ponderosa Supervisory Area office in Deary and St. Joe Supervisory Area office in St. Maries. She'll also tour endowment land near Santa, ID, included in the Benewah County Land Exchange.
Controller to Speak at IFG Contractor's Meeting in Moscow
On Monday, April 10, Land Board member and State Controller Brandon Woolf will deliver remarks at Idaho Forest Group’s annual contractors’ meeting in Moscow. He’ll follow presentations by IDL’s Fire Management Chief Josh Harvey, Good Neighbor Authority Bureau Chief Jon Songster, and Lands Section Manager for Timber Sales and Contract Administration Jeremy Shawver.
Controller Woolf’s remarks will focus on the more than one million acres of endowment land classified as timberland, and how this land comprises just 6.2% of Idaho’s productive timberland but supplies 32% of the fiber and sawlogs that feeds Idaho’s $2.5 billion forest products industry.
New Decor in the Boise Staff Office
The boring foyer of the Boise Staff Office is boring no more! A while back, a discussion was had about making the entry way to the building more inviting and more “natural resource” like. Given that we have quite a unique and rich history in Idaho and employees who take a lot of pride in what we do, I felt it was import to showcase this. Ultimately that culminated into a vision of depicting land management activities from days gone by, and what we are doing today to meet our two part mission.
I would like to give a HUGE thanks to Scott Phillips for taking on this project. The photos below are just a sample of Scott’s talent an creativity. Scott and IT installed a TV that showcases our people and the things we are doing on our lands today. This content will be updated periodically. Next to the TV is a series of historic logging photos from North Idaho that take you back to a time when conducting these activities was much more challenging and physically demanding. Scott actually made the frames from old fence boards he had lying around. We will start with these photos and switch them out periodically to showcase other activities form those times.
I will say the coolest part of this project is the rustic IDL logo that Scott made for us, also from old fence boards. Its about the same size of the TV and it looks amazing opposite the TV! Scott definitely has a talent for woodworking and I really appreciate the work he put into this project. Side gig maybe, Scott?
  
Because an IDL Team Member Asked for It...
The Endowment Fund Investment Board (EFIB) was established to manage investment of the proceeds generated by Idaho's endowment lands.
The Board's nine members are appointed by the Governor, subject to Senate confirmation. They serve four-year terms.
The EFIB also manages a Credit Enhancement Program to reduce the cost of financing of public school bonds.
Director Miller's Favorite Dad Joke This Week:
Q: Why should the Endowment Fund Investment Board consider buying stock in Bose?
A: Because it's a sound investment.
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U of I CNR Advisory Board Meeting
Last week Director Miller attended the University of Idaho College of Natural Resources (CNR) Spring Advisory Board meeting and awards banquet in Moscow. The director serves as the vice chair of the advisory board.
The board discussed items that included priority initiatives of the college, student enrollment, budgets and fundraising. The board also heard several presentations from students who are involved in many of the natural resources clubs in the college.
Outstanding students and faculty of the CNR were recognized at the awards banquet Friday night.
The director met a handful of graduating seniors that will be coming to work for IDL shortly after they graduate! Always telling the IDL story, he tried to recruit a few more graduates. Miller said it was fun to see the excitement and passion these natural resource young professionals display.
Arbor Day Seedlings Headed to IDL Area and Field Offices
This year Arbor Day lands on Friday, April 28, and once again IDL will collaborate with the Idaho Forest Products Commission to distribute seedlings at no cost to the public from our supervisory area, satellite, and Boise staff offices.
Jennifer Okerlund, the Executive Director of the Idaho Forest Products Commission (IFPC), is leading the statewide Arbor Day effort. Her cell phone number is (208) 863-1514 in case you have any questions.
Here is a breakdown of the plan:
- This month Arbor Day is being advertised across Idaho.
- The IFPC will advertise the availability of seedlings at IDL’s offices and other locations statewide using news releases and online marketing.
- IDL will also advertise seedling availability via social media and our newsletters.
- Seedlings will ship from the University of Idaho nursery on Monday the 24th.
- They should arrive at IDL offices by Wednesday the 26th or Thursday the 27th and will need to be kept in a cool location.
- Along with the seedlings, offices will receive flyers about Arbor Day and handouts to give away describing how to successfully plant seedlings.
- Each office will receive 50 seedlings.
- Based on last year’s demand, if your office requires a different quantity, please let Jennifer know via email to ifpc@idahoforests.org.
- On Arbor Day, April 28, please make seedlings available to the public between the hours of 9am and 4pm local time.
- If different hours are preferred, please let Jennifer know so she can adjust her media releases accordingly.
- The IFPC recommends placing the seedlings, Arbor Day flyers and planting instructions on a table outside your front entrance. There is no need to staff the table.
- You’re encouraged to distribute other IDL information to the public as well, like burn permit information.
- Since the IFPC does not have the capacity to handle leftover seedlings, please arrange to put any leftovers to good use locally.
On the big day, please take photos or videos of your seedling distribution table, or any Arbor Day events in your area, and send them to pio@idl.idaho.gov. We’d very much like to share your local Arbor Day celebrations with the broader statewide audience via our newsletters and on social media.
State Arbor Day Celebration
The Statewide Arbor Day Celebration in Boise will again be held at the Idaho State Museum in Boise on Friday, April 28th at 10 AM. We encourage those in Boise who are available to join us.
Director Miller will offer remarks about the history and future of Idaho's working forests and Governor Little's Arbor Day proclamation will be read.
If your supervisory area has plans to participate in Arbor Day events, please share information and photos via email to pio@idl.idaho.gov so that we in turn can share them with all of IDL and on social media.
Arbor Day City Grant Winners Announced
The Arbor Day Grant was awarded to 37 applicants this year. The $300 grants will be used to help communities with their Arbor Day celebrations and to increase awareness regarding the benefit of trees. Idaho Nursery and Landscape Association (INLA) is the administrator of this year's grants.
The funds can be used to purchase trees/shrubs and related planting/care materials from INLA member nurseries.
Grant dollars are distributed on a reimbursement basis and a 25% match (cash or in-kind) is required by the recipient communities. Notification will be sent to all 37 applicants along with a copy of the award recipients list.
Grants are made possible by donations from Idaho Power, Avista Utilities and Rocky Mountain Power.
Doubling Down on Dad Jokes
Sticking with the investment theme and because IDL manages 1,433,869 acres of rangeland:
Q: Why is buying a Wagyu cattle ranch a risky investment?
A: Because the steaks are so high.
Employees Leaving IDL
We wish departing team members the very best in their new endeavors.
- Sebastian Ianora, Southwest Supervisory Area
- Aubrey Stevens, Pend Oreille Lake Supervisory Area
In Case You Missed It
Here's a recap of other recent IDL newsletters you may find interesting:
One Team One Voice Newsletter Archive
Did you miss some important news? Are you curious about knowing what's happening across IDL? Our One Team, One Voice webpage contains an archive of IDL's newsletters covering:
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