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IDAPA 20.05.01 – Rules Pertaining to the Recreational Use of Endowment Land |
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IDL is engaging in negotiated rulemaking for a new rule chapter: Rules Pertaining to the Recreational Use of Endowment Land (IDAPA 20.05.01). This rulemaking implements Senate Bill 1049, which was signed into law on March 20, 2023.
Senate Bill 1049 was sponsored by recreational enthusiasts and sportsmen. The stakeholders hoped to curb the abuse endowment land, preserving its revenue-generating potential for the beneficiaries so it can remain open to the public.
The legislation requires rulemaking to specify prohibited activities that are subject to a warning ticket for minor first offenses, with second violations under the statute being punished with an infraction and a $250 fine.
Here are a few examples of the types of behaviors the new law and this rulemaking hopes to address:
- A favorite campground in eastern Idaho had to be shut down to all but day use after people kept leaving trash and human waste. People were also taking UTVs and traveling off trail, damaging the land and creating problems with erosion. People can now only walk into the area to hike or fish.
- In northern Idaho people were tearing up timberland by riding UTVs off trail. Idaho Department of Lands had to shut down the affected area, build fences, rehabilitate the land and reestablish one riding trail. So far it has taken two years with a cost of nearly $23,000 dollars, and the work continues.
- In southern Idaho IDL staff continually deal with inconsiderate people dumping appliances, furniture, tires and other trash on endowment land. It takes time and many resources to clean up and haul away the garbage. The cost is taken out of money for the beneficiaries who own the land, in essence bad actors steal funds from our school kids.
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Todd Wernex
Recreation Program Manager
twernex@idl.idaho.gov
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