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Current News Coverage
Controlled burn south of Ketchum sparks concerned calls
Idaho Mountain Express, 11-29-23
A plume of smoke rising west of state Highway 75 south of Ketchum drifted north and dispersed into a slight haze over Bald Mountain on Wednesday.
Idaho’s Department of Lands was burning 10 slash piles, the byproduct of a fall 2022 logging operation, said Sharla Arledge, the department’s public information officer. Crews were expected to finish burning the piles of woody debris by the end of Wednesday, she said, though some smoke remained over the area on Thursday.
Ketchum Assistant Fire Chief Seth Martin told the Express he’d received multiple calls from people inquiring about the fire on Wednesday.
Trees in the 80-acre timber stand, southwest of Clear Creek Canyon and Owl Rock roads, were infested with Douglas-fir beetles, according to previous Express reporting. The department’s logging project removed the largest Douglas fir trees, which are most vulnerable to beetles, and left healthy, smaller trees behind.
Logging on slope of Bald Mountain meant to salvage timber, reduce infestation
Proceeds generated from the sale of the timber were given to public schools.
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Inland Empire Paper Co. seeking millions from feds to maintain ‘working forests’ as development pressure builds
Spokesman-Review, 11-28-23
Spokane County’s largest private landowner is seeking millions of dollars from the federal government in exchange for conservation easements that would permanently protect from development thousands of acres of forest next to Mount Spokane.
The Inland Empire Paper Co., which owns roughly 120,000 acres in Eastern Washington and North Idaho, is asking the U.S. Forest Service for multiple conservation easements. Inland Empire is owned by the Cowles Co., which also owns The Spokesman-Review.
Congress created the Forest Legacy Program in 1990. The goal is to conserve “working forest” – typically timberland owned by logging companies. By giving loggers a financial incentive not to sell their land to developers, the federal government hopes to protect wildlife habitat, maintain recreational opportunities and preserve jobs tied to timber or paper production.
In the last 33 years, the Forest Legacy Program has paid for about 450 conservation easements on 3 million acres. The program in 2023 invested $188 million in 34 projects.
Idaho has about 100,000 acres protected by Forest Legacy Program conservation easements. Washington has about 70,000 acres in eight counties protected by more than $50 million worth of easements.
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Kiosks enhance winter access information
Bonners Ferry Herald, 11-27-23
BONNERS FERRY — Idaho Department of Lands and Idaho Parks and Recreation recently teamed up to build and install kiosks in the region to post information on winter access on endowment lands.
IDL's recreation program manager, IDPR's North Idaho trails specialist, and a trail cat operator collaborated on the kiosks that were installed in the Fall Creek and Ruby Creek areas of Boundary County.
Providing clear guidance to winter recreationists in this region is challenging given its checkerboard of land ownerships. The area includes endowment land and private timber land managed by Stimson Lumber and Manulife Forest Management.
The three (3) kiosks have been meticulously constructed and installed, serving as essential waypoints for outdoor enthusiasts. These kiosks will play a pivotal role in informing the public about how to retain winter access, crucial in an area with such diverse land ownership.
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208 View Question: Land-grant status
KTVB, 11-22-23
The 208 clarifies why the University of Idaho is included in the land grant but not Boise State University.
Watch story
Second phase of Boise Whitewater Park still undergoing more design changes three years after opening, river guide lodges navigability complaint
BoiseDev, 11-22-23
Boise has a one-of-its-kind in the nation river surfing wave, but since its opening in 2019, it’s undergone multiple design changes and is still not open to users other than high-level experts.
The City of Boise opened its first phase of the Boise Whitewater Park in 2012, which allowed kayakers, surfers and boogie boarders to ride the smaller wave in the Boise River on alternating days. It’s proved to be big hit and frequently has users lined up on the shore for their go at the water feature all summer, and some brave users even hit the water in the winter.
But, the city’s effort to open a second, bigger wave in 2019 has been troubled.
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Logging Slash: The Thanksgiving Leftovers of the Forest!
Posted November 24, 2023
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Just like those Thanksgiving leftovers lingering in your fridge, logging slash sticks around long after the main event.   Thanksgiving leftovers and logging slash are the remnants of something bigger. One is the aftermath of a delicious feast, and the other is the aftermath of responsible forest management. No one wants a fridge full of old Thanksgiving dishes. Similarly, proper cleanup and management of logging slash by burning it are crucial to maintain a healthy forest ecosystem. Burning slash releases nutrients back into the soil, enriching it and promoting future plant growth. This process mimics natural ecological cycles where wildfires play a role in nutrient cycling.
Coeur d'Alene Lighting Ceremony
Posted November 24, 2023
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#firepreventionjen and friends are getting ready for the Coeur d’Alene lighting ceremony to begin! Come show us your fire prevention love!! Thanks to our Mica firefighters for bringing the engine!!
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