Recent IDL News Releases
VIEW ALL NEWS RELEASES ON IDL'S WEBSITE
Current News Coverage
Valley County brings firewise program in-house
Star-News, 9-7-23
The Valley County firewise program to clear trees, brush and other wildfire hazards is set to expand, thanks to an agreement with the Payette National Forest.
Valley County commissioners approved an agreement with the Payette Tuesday through the Good Neighbor Authority, which allows for work to be funded across federal, state, local and private ownership boundaries, with the permission of each party.
The result of the agreement is about $495,000 in federal funding over five years to pay the wages and administrative costs of up to two employees to run the firewise program as a county function and increase the program’s capacity. The new county role will plan and facilitate firewise work, a job that has previously been contracted to Stephanie Nelson of Wildfire Prevention Associates.
READ MORE
Valley County Commissioners protect Shellworth Island in Payette Lake
Idaho Conservation League, 9-7-23
Over 10,000 years ago, glaciers covering Idaho’s west central mountains retreated, leaving behind numerous crystal clear, turquoise blue and sapphire green high mountain lakes. McCall’s Payette Lake represents one of these Gem State glacial remnant jewels, and in early August Valley County Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution to designate Shellworth Island, a roughly 13-acre sanctuary near the eastern lake shore, an Area of Critical Concern (ACC).
ACCs are areas where special management is needed to protect important resources, and in this case, the Commissioners identified the need to protect Payette Lake’s water quality as a top priority. The designation allows the county to require in-depth environmental reviews prior to any future development or management change. The island is owned by the state and managed by the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) under the direction of the Idaho Land Board. In 2021 the Idaho Land Board approved the Payette Endowment Lands Strategy, which proposed to sell or lease Shellworth Island within the next 10 years.
The ACC designation was developed in response by United Payette, a local coalition of concerned organizations and individuals working to conserve the McCall area endowment lands. The Idaho Conservation League (ICL) is a founding member and the financial sponsor of United Payette (UP).
READ MORE
Kamiah timber sale to benefit hospital, school
Idaho County Free Press, 9-6-23
KAMIAH — On Aug. 28, the Idaho Department of Lands sold a timber sale at Kamiah, the Rocky North Cedar, located eight miles northeast of Kooskia, to IFG Timber LLC. An estimated 3,185 MBF was sold for an average price of $487.50 per MBF for cedar and $164 per MBF for non-cedar. Proceeds will benefit the public school and State Hospital South, Blackfoot, endowments.
READ MORE
Hearing set on proposed Trestle Creek development
Bonner County Daily Bee, 9-5-23
The Department of Lands has scheduled a public hearing regarding the renewed plans to build luxury housing and a private marina on the shores of Idaho’s Trestle Creek — a proposal that officials say would harm a key spawning site for threatened bull trout.
“The Idaho Club’s proposal was a horrible idea last year and it’s just as horrible now,” said Kristine Akland, Northern Rockies director for the Center for Biological Diversity. “This is nearly identical to the plan we successfully fought. It would be catastrophic for dwindling bull trout and would scar one of Idaho’s most beautiful and serene waterways.”
In response to a lawsuit filed by the Idaho Conservation League and the Center for Biological Diversity in 2022, the Army Corps of Engineers withdrew a permit authorizing construction of a previous iteration of The Idaho Club’s lakeside development.
The newest proposal calls for five single-family estates and a private marina with 105 fixed-pier docks. The project would reroute Trestle Creek’s north branch, excavate an island and peninsula, and discharge thousands of tons of soil, rock and other debris into Lake Pend Oreille near the mouth of Trestle Creek.
The Department of Lands has scheduled a public hearing regarding the renewed plans to build luxury housing and a private marina on the shores of Idaho’s Trestle Creek — a proposal that officials say would harm a key spawning site for threatened bull trout.
“The Idaho Club’s proposal was a horrible idea last year and it’s just as horrible now,” said Kristine Akland, Northern Rockies director for the Center for Biological Diversity. “This is nearly identical to the plan we successfully fought. It would be catastrophic for dwindling bull trout and would scar one of Idaho’s most beautiful and serene waterways.”
In response to a lawsuit filed by the Idaho Conservation League and the Center for Biological Diversity in 2022, the Army Corps of Engineers withdrew a permit authorizing construction of a previous iteration of The Idaho Club’s lakeside development.
The newest proposal calls for five single-family estates and a private marina with 105 fixed-pier docks. The project would reroute Trestle Creek’s north branch, excavate an island and peninsula, and discharge thousands of tons of soil, rock and other debris into Lake Pend Oreille near the mouth of Trestle Creek.
READ MORE
'Weapon of choice': How environmental law in Idaho was gutted
Idaho Press, 9-3-23
As fires burn, fish die and crops falter, Idaho activists and legal firms are limited in how they can address climate change.
A landmark legal case in Montana made headlines this summer after a judge decided that the state’s not considering climate impacts in approving energy projects was unconstitutional.
Idahoans likely couldn’t bring a similar case in front of the courts — both because of a 1996 law that limited what is known as the “public trust,” and because the Gem State’s environmental law is weaker and more limited than certain other Western states.
“We, in part because of … this sort of lack of state environmental laws and regulations, or lack of teeth to the ones that we do have, is part of why we focus on federal environmental law,” said Bryan Hurlbutt, staff attorney for the Idaho-based Advocates for the West.
READ MORE
Idaho Land Board cures open meeting law violation
Idaho Capital Sun, 9-2-23
The Idaho Board of Land Commissioners met briefly Friday morning to acknowledge and cure a violation of Idaho’s open meeting law.
During Friday’s meeting at the Idaho Department of Lands downtown Boise office, Gov. Brad Little said the violation occurred during the land board’s most recent meeting on Aug. 15.
“I move the board acknowledge that the Aug. 15 motion for executive session violated the open meeting law by failing to specifically identify the specific subsection of Idaho code authorizing the executive session,” Little said during Friday’s meeting.
To remedy, or cure, the violation, the land board voted to void the Aug. 15 executive session and re-do the motion by identifying the section of Idaho code authorizing the executive session. The land board then went into an executive session for about five minutes Friday to meet with its legal counsel to discuss pending litigation. When the land board members returned to open session a few moments later, they announced they took no action during the executive session and then adjourned their meeting.
READ MORE
FIRE COVERAGE
10 tips for hunters during fire season
Coeur d'Alene Press, 9-7-23
With many hunting seasons underway (or set to begin soon) and dry conditions across parts of the state, hunters are reminded to be extra careful and pay close attention to current fire restrictions.
While recent rainfall, shorter daylight hours and cooler temperatures have reduced fire danger across most of the state in the last week, it will only take a few hot days to dry the fuels that could spark a wildfire.
Besides exercising a little extra caution, here are 10 tips every hunter can do this fall.
1. Know before you go
Check the area in advance of a hunt to see if there are fire closures or restrictions due to fire danger. A great place to start is Fish and Game's Fire Page, idfg.idaho.gov, that includes a map of all current fire area closures and fire activities statewide. Another helpful resource is Idaho Department of Lands’ Fire Restrictions page, www.idl.idaho.gov, that shows where the fire restrictions are and what they mean.
READ MORE
Stay vigilant regarding fires
Star-News, 9-7-23
With hunting seasons opening across the state, officials from the Idaho Department of Lands and the non-profit group Idaho Sportsmen have an important message for outdoor enthusiasts.
IDL Director Dustin Miller and Idaho Sportsmen Executive Director Benn Brocksome agree that fire season isn’t over yet, and caution is needed because the fire risk for most of Idaho remains high or very high.
READ MORE
Cool temperatures, rain prompt end to fire restrictions
St. Maries Gazette Record, 9-6-23
Northern Idaho fire restrictions were lifted last week, following cooler temperatures and recent rainfall in the area. For more information on specific fire restriction activities, visit the Department of Lands website at https://www.idl.idaho.gov/fire-management/fire-restrictions-finder/.
Hospital Fire burns six homes, numerous outbuildings
Clearwater Tribune, 9-6-23
According to a report from Idaho Department of Lands received on Thursday, Aug. 31, officials reported management of the Hospital Fire had been transferred from the Type 3 Incident Commander back to the local district. The incident is 100% contained. Mop up operations were continuing that Thursday.
Fire officials report they are grateful for the strong support of cooperating agencies who helped suppress this fire, including Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protective Association, Idaho Department of Lands, U.S. Forest Service, Orofino Fire Department, Twin Ridge Rural Fire District, Sunnyside Rural Fire District, Kamiah Fire-Rescue and Grangemont Fire District.
The fire, which broke out shortly after 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29, destroyed six homes, numerous outbuildings, and burned approximately 53 acres. Winds blew much of the afternoon that Tuesday, with some almost 30-mile-an-hour.
READ MORE
3 things to know this morning – September 4, 2023
KIFI, 9-4-23
2. Although we are seeing good amounts of rain and cooler temperatures, Idaho is not out of the woods when it comes to wildfire risk. The Idaho Department of Lands and Idaho Sportsmen say wildfire risk is still high. They are reminding us to never leave a campfire unattended, no matter how long you may need to step away from your site.
READ MORE
Fire restrictions lowered to Phase I in time for weekend
Bonner County Daily Bee, 9-2-23
Thanks to the recent heavy rains and cooler temperatures in North Idaho, fire restrictions have been lowered from Stage II to Stage I just in time for Labor Day weekend.
The shift to Stage 1 fire restriction allows campfires in designated facilities at all Idaho state parks, including those within the state’s five most northern counties, where tighter restrictions previously had been in effect due to the dry conditions. Fires are allowed in park-provided facilities — such as metal campfire rings — at Farragut, Heyburn, Priest Lake, McCroskey, and Round Lake state parks.
Also allowed in Stage I restrictions are enclosed gas, propane, or butane camp stoves with an on/off switch.
READ MOREhttps://bonnercountydailybee.com/news/2023/sep/02/fire-restrictions-lowered-phase-i-time-weekend/
Idaho’s not out of the woods yet, wildfire risk remains high for most of state
Idaho County Free Press, 9-1-23
With hunting seasons opening across the state, officials from the Idaho Department of Lands and the non-profit group Idaho Sportsmen have an important message for outdoor enthusiasts.
IDL Director Dustin Miller and Idaho Sportsmen Executive Director Benn Brocksome agree that fire season isn’t over yet, and caution is needed because the fire risk for most of Idaho remains high or very high.
“Although fire restrictions across Idaho have been lifted due to cooler weather and rain, we must remain vigilant and remember that with the privilege of lighting a campfire comes the responsibility of putting it out, dead out,” said Brocksome.
READ MORE
Upgrade to Stage 1 fire restrictions allow campfires to return to North Idaho parks for Labor Day weekend
KIFI, 9-1-23
NORTHERN IDAHO (KIFI) — The shift to Stage 1 fire restrictions will allow campfires in designated facilities at all Idaho State Parks, including those within the state's five most northern counties, where tighter restrictions previously have been in effect.
Fires are allowed in park-provided facilities, such as metal campfire rings, at Farragut, Heyburn, Priest Lake, McCroskey and Round Lake state parks. Also allowed are enclosed gas, propane or butane camp stoves with an on/off switch.
Portable charcoal grills and wood-burning stoves remain off limits during Stage 1 restrictions at the parks listed above. Smoking is allowed in vehicles or buildings, where otherwise allowed, and outdoors in areas that are three feet in diameter, free of flammable material. For more information and the latest updates on Fire Restrictions, visit the Idaho Department of Land's Fire Restrictions Finder.
Sharable Social Media Posts
VIEW THE SOCIAL MEDIA ARCHIVE ON IDL'S WEBSITE
Before you go hunting
Posted September 7, 2023
SHARE THIS POST NOW ON FACEBOOK
Wait! Before you go on your hunting trip this year: Add a shovel and bucket to your gear.
Why? With shorter days and chilly mornings a warming fire may be the start of your hunting day.
Don’t spark a wildfire that could damage your favorite hunting spot.
Give 30 seconds to #FirePreventionJen for what to do before you light that match.
#FirePrevention
#Idaho
#HuntingSeason
#OneTeam
What do we mean by Forest Management
Posted September 5, 2023
SHARE THIS POST NOW ON FACEBOOK
What do we mean by “Forest Management?” Stay with us as we show you.
Here's an example of what we do at the Idaho Department of Lands: This year 440,000 seedlings were planted over 1,200 acres near Clarkia, Idaho (about 80 miles south of Coeur d’Alene) after a wildfire in 2021.
What is forest management? Replanting after fires, replanting after harvests.
#ForestManagement
#OneTeam
#IdahoForests
#IdahoDepartmentofLands
#Idaho
#SustainableForestry
Social Media Statistics
Facebook Account Overview
August 7- September 6
Twitter Account Overview
August 10 - September 7
|
