Recent IDL News Releases
VIEW ALL NEWS RELEASES ON IDL'S WEBSITE
Current News Coverage
'Women In the Woods' returns
Coeur d'Alene Press, 3-22-24
COEUR d'ALENE — The Women in the Woods classes are back.
These events give women landowners the opportunity to interact with a lineup of all-women forestry experts, creating an atmosphere where forest management training is tailored to female land managers.
"Women landowners have an increasing role in forest management decisions and it’s important they have confidence and skill in managing their family forests," a press release said.
There will be two classes offered by the Idaho Department of Lands and the University of Idaho Extension. The first class, the Women in the Woods Workshop, is a classroom day that focuses on supportive resources and funding opportunities for forest landowners.
“We have a new workshop feature this year,” said Erika Eidson, IDL Forest Health Specialist and workshop co-host. “Participants will have the opportunity to bring in photos of their forest, and industry experts will help them assess the condition and set goals.”
READ MORE
As weather warms up, IDL looking to complete wildland firefighter hiring in Southwest Idaho
Idaho Press, 3-19-24
Continued population growth, more unwanted human-caused fires and an increase in protection acres has the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) seeking an increase in seasonal wildfire crews for the 2024 season. IDL Fire has openings in our Southwest Supervisory Area in Boise.
IDL Fire now has wildfire suppression responsibility on 9.6 million acres of state, federal, and private timberlands. In 2023, 95% of wildfires under IDL’s protection were kept to 10 acres or less.
This responsibility and success are made possible by our seasonal firefighting force. Thanks to budget requests approved in recent years by the Idaho Legislature, these positions continue to have a higher hourly pay and hazard pay.
IDL seasonal firefighters earn between $15.91 — $19.09 an hour, depending on experience. In addition to an hourly wage, firefighters earn overtime and hazard pay when actively working to suppress wildfires.
Idaho Department of Land is hiring seasonal wildlife crews
KTVB, 3-15-24
IDAHO, USA — The Idaho Department of Land (IDL), is hiring seasonal wildfire crews in southwest Idaho. A news release stated that due to increased protection acres and an increase in population, IDL needs more employees.
"Fighting for Idaho comes with incredible opportunities that can grow into a career with the state," said IDL Director Dustin Miller. "We encourage interested individuals to take these opportunities to protect Idaho's natural resources and communities."
People have to be 18 in order to work for IDL and seasonal firefighters make between $15.91 and $19.09 an hour. More information on jobs and applying can be found at idl.idaho.gov/seasonal.
READ MORE
Under new management
Bonner County Daily Bee, 3-18-24
SANDPOINT — It was 40 or so years ago that Dick Bradetich and Mike Wolcott walked into Bill Love's office at the Idaho Department of Lands in Sandpoint.
The pair, Love recounts, wanted to let him know about their new forestry consultation business.
Now, Idaho Forest Management officials are letting the community know about a new change in the company with the sale of IFM to Georgia-based F&W Forestry Services.
While ownership may be changing, former owner and IFM president Mike Wolcott said little else will be.
The name will remain, the company's foresters will continue to serve their clients, and its commitment to providing a wide range of forestry-related service will only expand.
READ MORE
‘Idaho Works’: Critical funding for water, wildfire response heads to Gov. Little’s desk
KMVT, 3-16-24
BOISE, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — Critical funding for water infrastructure and land management is heading to Governor Brad Little’s desk after passing both legislative bodies this week.
“Idaho must maintain our water sovereignty and not turn out like other western states in the Colorado River Basin, such as California, where the federal government stepped in to supersede the state’s control of its water,” Governor Little said. “These investments build on decades of good work and demonstrate that IDAHO, not the feds, can best determine the fate of our water.”
Governor Little applauded his legislative partners’ support on the following “Idaho Works” budget recommendations:
...
Senate Bill 1410: Provides $1 million in bonuses to recruit and retain a strong wildland firefighting workforce at the Idaho Department of Lands. Senate Bill 1410 also strengthens Idaho’s ability to combat and prevent wildfires that threaten life, property, and Idaho lands by directing an additional $17 million into the state Fire Suppression Deficiency Fund.
READ MORE
Long term study finds combination of prescribed burns, thinning effective at reducing wildfire risk
Boise State Radio, 3-15-24
Prescribed fire and mechanical thinning are often used to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire, and achieve other ecosystem goals. There’s been relatively little research on their long term effectiveness, but a new study looks at those impacts over two decades.
The University of Montana’s Lubrecht Experimental Forest is a ponderosa pine-dominated landscape adapted to regular, low-intensity wildfires – similar to many across the West . It’s also one of a handful of sites where these treatments have been closely studied for years as a part of the National Fire and Fire Surrogates project.
The study concluded that – if a fire were to occur now – “the thinning (and) prescribed fire treatment would likely have the lowest intensity fire and highest tree survival and stable carbon stocks.”
“This study is one of a number of studies that say if we use prescribed burning and with thinning, then we can maintain a stable group of large, fire tolerant trees,” said Justin Crotteau, a Forest Service research forester who was one of the authors.
READ MORE
VIEW THE SOCIAL MEDIA ARCHIVE ON IDL'S WEBSITE
Smokey's Adventures at Scaling School
Posted March 21, 2024
SHARE THIS POST NOW ON FACEBOOK
Happy First Day of Spring
Posted March 20, 2024
SHARE THIS POST NOW ON FACEBOOK
Happy #FirstDayofSpring! Spring is baby tree planting season at the Idaho Department of Lands. We planted nearly 4 MILLION seedlings in 2023. We plant every year. After wildfires like in these photos. And after timber harvests so forests keep on growing and generating funds for Idaho public schools.
Photos by Robbie Johnson, Idaho Department of Lands.
Facebook Account Overview
February 20 - March 20
|
