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Johnson Creek Bridge and Road reopen near Clark Fork
Sandpoint Reader, 5-17-23
Engineers with the U.S. Forest Service and contracting officials with the Idaho Department of Lands announced April 27 that work had been completed to replace a bridge that crosses Johnson Creek, near Clark Fork.
The rebuilt Johnson Creek Bridge.
Courtesy photo.
Forest Service Road 278, heading south to access Lakeview, Whiskey Rock and other points along the eastern shore of Lake Pend Oreille, has reopened but snow still limits vehicle access in the mountains.
After identifying structural deficiencies, engineers started work in September 2022 to replace the timber bridge built in 1957, located at Mile Marker 0.71 on Johnson Creek Road, immediately south of the Clark Fork River delta.
A new concrete bridge with a longer span will provide access to the Green Monarchs and those accessing public and private lands to the south.
The work was completed through a partnership with the Idaho Department of Lands and the U.S. Forest Service using the Good Neighbor Authority. The Forest Service provided engineering and contract administration support to complete the complex project.
“This project is another example of the meaningful partnership the U.S. Forest Service and Idaho Department of Lands have in completing projects for land and resource management,” stated Rick Driggs, zone engineering staff officer with the Forest Service.
The contractor for the project was C.E. Kramer.
Wildfires where homes meet forest are costly. Now Idaho will pay for more of them
Idaho Statesman, 5-17-23
To stop a wildfire, an assortment of agencies must come together — federal, state, tribal and sometimes local firefighters. But when the smoke clears, they must determine who shoulders the costs of the blaze, which can easily total millions of dollars.
The myriad agencies decide which lands they’ll protect and how they’ll pay for wildfires based on guidelines laid out in a master fire agreement. Last week, the Idaho Department of Lands, which handles wildfires on state-owned land and some private forest land, signed a new agreement with federal and tribal partners — shifting more responsibility on the state.
The new agreement makes Idaho responsible for more areas where range land and forest meet growing housing developments — also known as the wildland-urban interface area. The change, created by trades between state and federal agencies, has raised concerns that Idaho could foot larger bills in areas known to attract costly wildfires. And Idaho does little to regulate building in those areas.
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Booming Idaho parks to see funding boost: more campsites, new yurts, upgraded boat slips, more
BoiseDev, 5-16-23
Idaho’s state parks, which are seeing more visitors than ever, are slated to get a historic influx of funding for upgrades and to tackle a massive maintenance backlog.
The Legislature this year allocated a total of nearly $165 million in capital and operating funds for the state Parks and Recreation Department, and on July 1, that funding will be accessible.
“We’ve never seen this kind of funding coming into the department,” said Craig Quintana, parks department public information officer.
There was also money set aside to pursue a potential new funding mechanism for the department. The agency is expected to meet with the state Department of Lands, Department of Fish and Game, and stakeholders to discuss projects, Quintana said.
Possible projects could include the parks department acquiring land from the Department of Lands to expand parks and create new campgrounds, or improving roads and obtaining leases with private landowners to improve access to recreation, he said. These projects may produce stable funding sources that could be supported through fees or other means, he said.
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Into the woods
Coeur d'Alene Press, 5-13-23
Future foresters, firefighters, engineers and more took to the woods Thursday to explore silviculture and expand their knowledge of all things arboreous.
Using Farragut State Park as their arena, more than 300 students from across the Gem State competed in the 40th annual Idaho State Forestry Contest. More than 150 volunteers and 95 coaches/chaperones helped facilitate the event.
Students vied for cash prizes and scholarships, ranging from $50 to $1,000. Categories included timber cruising, which is a process used to determine the board-foot volume of lumber in standing trees; silviculture, the science of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, health and quality of forests; tree and shrub identification; log scaling, which is done to measure the volume of a log before it becomes lumber; map and compass reading; soil and water quality; noxious weeds; tool identification, and tree health.
“I’ve been learning a lot about how to just take care of the environment,” said Levi Betts, a homeschool student from Coeur d’Alene.
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IDL offers safe spring burning tips
Bonner County Daily Bee, 5-12-23
The Idaho Department of Lands recently released some tips for controlled burning following the Ledges Fire near the Pend Oreille Wildlife Management Area on May 2.
Fire officials advised anyone planning a burning operation this spring to exercise caution. If a fire escapes, and the individual who started the fire is found to have been negligent, they will be held liable for the costs of suppressing the fire, IDL officials said.
Following these simple, common-sense tips can help prevent a fire from escaping and limit an individual’s liability if something goes wrong:
• A responsible adult is required by law to be in attendance until the fire is out.
• Clear all flammable material and vegetation within 10 feet of the outer edge of the pile.
• Keep a water supply and shovel close to the burning site.
• If it’s windy and the surrounding vegetation is dry, it may be best to wait and burn debris another day.
• Keep your pile at a manageable size. Add additional debris slowly as the pile burns down.
• Look up. Choose a safe site for burning that’s away from power lines, overhanging limbs, buildings, vehicles and equipment.
More information about fire prevention and burning guidelines can be found at https://www.idl.idaho.gov/.../fire-prevention-and.../.
Sharable Social Media Posts
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Know Your Home Ignition Zone
Posted May 17, 2023
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Maintain Your Spark Arrestor
Posted May 17, 2023
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Just one spark can start a fire. Spark arrestors are required for all internal combustion motors on public lands. Maintaining your spark arrestor is important in preventing wildfires. Be sure the one on your OHV is working. Learn more:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/.../FSE.../stelprdb5319644.pdf
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