IDL tracks and monitors news coverage of our activities and significant events that may impact our operations, recapping the coverage in this newsletter.
This publication also details IDL's social media posts for the week, keeping stakeholders and our front-line customer service staff apprised of our public-facing communications.
The cities of Priest River and Ponderay were selected to receive a $350 Arbor Day grant.
The Idaho Nursery and Landscape Association, in cooperation with the Idaho Department of Lands, Avista, Idaho Power, and Rocky Mountain Power announced the grants to assist in the communities' celebration of Arbor Day 2024.
"We hope this event will encourage the members of your community to realize the important benefits trees provide, recognize the appropriate species of trees for various locations and promote a healthy community forest," INLA officials said in a press release. "Planting Idaho's communities not only add beauty, but also improve the environment, making your community more inviting to visitors, and increasing economic value in both downtown and residential areas."
Prescribed burn at Fort Boise Wildlife Management Area near Parma
KIVI, 4-11-24
PARMA, Idaho — See smoke coming from the Parma area today? No need to worry — a prescribed burn is scheduled at the Fort Boise Wildlife Management Area.
Idaho Department of Lands is assisting Idaho Fish and Game with the burn to control noxious weeds within reed grass in the marsh area. The Fort Boise Wildlife Management Area underwent its first burn of the season on April 2, with roughly 110 acres being burned. Firefighters plan to burn an additional 96 acres during the April 11 scheduled burn.
Idaho Department of Lands
Prescribed burns at Fort Boise Wildlife Management Area on April 2, 2024.
For information about the Fort Boise Wildlife Management Area or the prescribed burn, contact Fish and Game’s Fort Boise office at (208) 722-5888.
Shooting ordinance proposed – Rules would apply to two gravel pits on Warren Wagon Road
Star News, 4-11-24
An ordinance to ban the shooting of firearms at two gravel pits off Warren Wagon Road was proposed by Valley County Commissioners on Monday.
A public hearing is required for any changes to county ordinances. No hearing date was set on Monday, but commissioners intend to establish new shooting rules soon.
“I believe in owning your gun and having the ability to go use it, but these areas are so close to homes that it is becoming a health and safety issue,” said Commissioner Sherry Maupin.
Two gravel pits accessed by Green Gate Road off Warren Wagon Road have been used as shooting ranges for years.
Nearby residents complained to commissioners in August that the number of gunshots had become unbearable, citing nearly incessant gunfire lasting from morning until night on most summer days.
Several residents reported bullets striking close to their homes.
One roughly 56-acre pit is operated by the Idaho Transportation Department, and the other roughly 13-acre pit by Tom Meckel Sand & Gravel Inc. of McCall. Both are operated under leases from the Idaho Department of Lands to mine basalt for use in road construction.
An expansion of Mile High Marina that will build a new public boardwalk on Payette Lake was approved last week by the McCall City Council.
The expansion, proposed by Mile High Marina owner Sam Worley of McCall, will add up to 90 new boat slips to the 165-slip marina at 1300 E. Lake St.
An existing log breakwater will be replaced with a new breakwater system attached to 1,100 feet of floating public boardwalk surrounding the marina as part of the project.
McCall attorney Steve Millemann, who represented Worley at last week’s hearing, said there is currently no timeline for construction to begin.
McCall Mayor Bob Giles and council members Mike Maciaszek and Lyle Nelson voted in favor of the expansion, but acknowledged fears raised about water quality in Payette Lake.
“We’re already in a crisis, but I don’t think we can manage that through this process,” Nelson said. “To me, this is a step in alleviating it, not adding to it.”
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The marina’s proposal also needed approval from the Idaho Department of Lands, which has jurisdiction over lands submerged by water. That approval was granted last year.
The Idaho Department of Lands has started the process of building its new headquarters which are slated to be completed in 2025.
IDL St. Joe area manager Tony Brede said the construction is set to be done over two phases. Crews have already demolished the IDL’s shop building. Brede said crews will build the new admin offices in the place of the former shop.
He said the first building to go up will be the new administrative offices and a metal prefabricated structure that will house fire vehicles and personnel. The new fire building will also feature three heated bays for fire vehicles.
Brede said having the bays will allow fire crews to keep three engines fully serviced and housed in the building 24/7.
For now, the IDL will continue to operate out of the original admin building.
“If everything goes according to plan, they are going to try to get us in the new office by January,” Brede said.
The new administrative offices will be all one level and will be ADA compliant. The current administrative office is made up of multiple add-ons and remodels from the past five decades.
The new building will give the IDL staff a clean slate, with up-to-date heating and cooling systems as well.
“There will be better heating and cooling, better appearance and it’ll be a better working environment for our employees,” Brede said.
Brede said another perk will be receiving a larger conference room. The previous conference room could hold up to 20 people where the new design will have a max capacity of 50 people.
He said the conference room will not only be for IDL meetings but he said it could be opened up to the public as well to be utilized for city, county or other organizational meetings.
When the new administrative buildings are built and the staff are moved in, the current administrative building will then be demolished.
Brede said some work will go into that side of the property such as the installment of retaining walls. The plan is to create employee parking in the space where the current admin offices are now.
He said if things go to plan, crews anticipate being done with the project in its entirety by July 2025.
The Benewah County Commissioners approved a land donation at their regular meeting Monday, April 7.
Daman Land and Timber LLC donated two acres of land to the county, which is located adjacent to the county’s district two shop.
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Dave Resser and Julie DeSaussure appeared during public comment to ask about the county securing land for a gun range. Short explained the county is still working on a land exchange with the Idaho Department of Lands. Benewah County is looking at securing ownership of land near the Santa Y where the horse arena sits. Short said he hopes it will be complete in a few months.
“It’s still in process and moving forward,” Short said.
Short said there should be room within the parcel for a 500-yard range. He said agreements with the county and gun club would have to made. There would also have to be provisions that would not allow shooting during events held at the arena by the local saddle club. A lease between the county and the local saddle club would also be negotiated.
Reynolds said both the county and Idaho Department of Lands are wanting to see the exchange completed.
Rules governing conservation of oil and natural gas in Idaho to be discussed at public meetings
Argus Observer, 4-9-24
IDAPA 20.07.02 Rules Governing Conservation of Oil and Natural Gas in the State of Idaho is going through the rulemaking process in 2024. The Notice of Intent to Promulgate Rules was published in the Idaho Administrative Bulletin on April 3.
The first draft text is now available for review on the rulemaking webpage on the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Website: https://bit.ly/49s4Qgm.
This first draft text will be presented at two public negotiated meetings to accept oral comment on April 11 at 1:00 p.m. at the Idaho Department of Lands Boise Staff Office and April 15 at 1:00 p.m. at Fruitland City Hall. Both meetings will also have a Zoom option for virtual attendance. Written comments will be accepted on this first draft text until April 19.
Another public negotiated meeting will be held when a second draft is completed.
Information pertaining to this rulemaking and how to submit comments can be found at https://bit.ly/49s4Qgm.
Idaho Ski Resort Prohibiting Uphill Travel During Controlled Burns
Powder, 4-9-24
Tamarack Resort, Idaho, has prohibited uphill skier and snowboarder travel within its boundaries due to an ongoing period of prescribed burns.
The uphill travel closure first went into effect Monday, April 8th, the day after the resort concluded its winter operating season.
"We’re taking steps to ensure the long-term health and safety of our beloved summit by initiating the controlled burning of log piles," Tamarack wrote on Instagram. "This is a crucial part of our on-hill maintenance and upgrades."
Tamarack notes that it's adhering to a zero-tolerance policy during the uphill travel closure—violations will result in a lifetime ban from purchasing passes at the mountain.
Prescribed burns are vital to forest management. They reduce hazardous fuel, promote forest health, and lower the risk of larger, difficult-to-control fires.
In the fall of 2020, the West State Fire burned 60 acres of forest, stopping 500 feet short of Tamarack's mid-mountain lodge. While no structures were damaged, the resort approached fire prevention with renewed intensity after the incident.
“There’s a lot of lessons you take out of these events,” Scott Turlington, President of Tamarack Resort, told the Idaho Department of Lands one year after the fire. “For us it’s how do we prevent this type of very active fire from happening on other parts of the mountain.”
In the Instagram announcement, Tamarack didn't share when the uphill travel ban will conclude.
Rules governing oil and natural gas in Idaho to face public comment
Emmett Messenger, 4-9-24
IDAPA 20.07.02 Rules Governing Conservation of Oil and Natural Gas in the State of Idaho is going through the rulemaking process in 2024. The Notice of Intent to Promulgate Rules was published in the Idaho Administrative Bulletin on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.
This first draft text will be presented at two public negotiated meetings to accept oral comment on Thursday, April 11, 2024 at 1 p.m. at the Idaho Department of Lands Boise Staff Office and Monday, April 15, 2024 @ 1:00pm (MT) at Fruitland City Hall. Both meetings will also have a Zoom option for virtual attendance. Written comments will be accepted on this first draft text until Friday, April 19, 2024.
Another public negotiated meeting will be held when a second draft is completed.
Did you know that loggers use their skills to help with wildfires? Know a logger who does? Happy #TimberTuesday. Photo is from an Idaho timber harvest. Robbie Johnson, Idaho Department of Lands…
Idaho Department of Lands is building out the new East Idaho Forest Protective District. That means a brand-new team of IDL wildland firefighters is beginning to form.
Right now, IDL has openings for two assistant fire wardens for the new district. These positions will be located within IDL’s Eastern Idaho Supervisory Area in Idaho Falls.
Duties include: Provide leadership, mentoring, training, and supervision for permanent engine captains and seasonal fire crew. Help administer Idaho Fire Hazard Reduction projects, coordinate workloads, fire preparedness and fire suppression with employees.
