Current News Coverage
Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests and Idaho Department of Lands Continue Partnership to Restore Forest Ecosystems and Mitigate Wildfire Threats
Big Country News, 9-18-24
KAMIAH - The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests and the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) are jointly undertaking a multi-year series of projects designed to restore forest ecosystems and increase fire-resilient landscapes. The Idaho Department of Lands was the first agency to enter into a Good Neighbor Authority Agreement (GNA) with the forests in 2016. Building on this near-decade-long record of success, partnership efforts continue to focus on fuels reduction and landscape-level restoration projects that will leverage resources across state and federal management boundaries.
Acting Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests Supervisor Molly Ryan stated: “IDL and the Forest recognize many shared interests that can be achieved through shared stewardship. We partner together because ecosystems cross boundaries, and together we can work at the landscape level to achieve our shared objectives.”
Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) authorizes the forests to utilize the unique capacities of Tribal, state, and local governments to achieve shared stewardship objectives. This authority allows partners to perform forest and watershed restoration work that will improve forest resilience and directly benefit local communities and small businesses. Revenues generated from GNA timber sales conducted by IDL on National Forest lands are used to fund additional restoration projects and offset the personnel costs to GNA program participants.
“These partnerships expedite work to restore watersheds, reduce the wildfire risk to all lands, and also maintain a workforce and industry that are critical to our mission,” said Jon Songster, IDL GNA Bureau Chief. “It’s a win-win for everyone.”
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Corps, IDL seek public input on Trestle Creek development
Sandpoint Reader, 9-18-24
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Idaho Department of Lands are once again seeking public comment on the Idaho Club’s proposed development near the mouth of Trestle Creek, which includes an 88-slip commercial marina, breakwater, pedestrian bridge and parking lot, as well as seven houses with corresponding private docks.
Written comments are due to the Corps Wednesday, Sept. 25. IDL will accept written comments until Monday, Oct. 7, when the Office of Administrative Hearings will host a public hearing at Sandpoint High School (410 S. Division Ave.) on IDL’s behalf.
Paddlers explore Lake Pend Oreille near the mouth of Trestle Creek. Courtesy photo.
The proposed development has undergone a series of major revisions since it was first drafted in 2008, due most recently to pushback from members of the public and environmental groups like the Idaho Conservation League. Trestle Creek provides an important habitat for indigenous kokanee salmon and bull trout, the latter of which are protected by the Endangered Species Act and listed as threatened in all of their known habitats, including Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.
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Gov. Little sets urgent tone on wildfire and land management
KTVB, 9-18-24
Gov. Little told KTVB he wanted to pressure federal fire managers to protect state land.
Idaho facing $45M in wildfire expenses so far
KBOI, 9-18-24
With the state facing an estimated $45.8 million in wildfire expenses so far this season, Idaho Gov. Brad Little and other state officials are discussing the need to replenish the fund before next year.
According to the Idaho Press, the Department of Lands Director Dustin Miller said Tuesday, that during the last legislative session, the state pre-funded its emergency fire suppression fund at about $68 million.
So far this year, the state has spent an estimated $51.1 million, about $5.2 million of which is reimbursable costs, which leaves the state on the hook for about $45.8 million so far.
According to Idaho Department of Lands documents, by comparison, the state’s net fire expenses a year ago in September 2023 were just $14.6 million.
The Idaho Legislature will decide whether to approve additional pre-funding for the emergency fire suppression fund once the 2025 legislative session convenes in January.
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As wildfire season winds down, Idaho takes stock of this year's firefighting cost
Boise State Public Radio, 9-18-24
Colder weather and rainfall are welcome changes for local fire managers but fire season is not over yet. On Tuesday, the Department of Lands took stock of the latest wildland firefighting report, noting cost for the year remained within the predicted budget.
Speaking in front of the board, Director Dustin Miller said efforts to suppress fires on state land this season cost Idaho around $51 million. Some of the fires were on Federal land and the Idaho Department still needs to figure out how much the state versus the feds need to cover.
“It could be north of $10 million in terms of cost share responsibilities, but we're not quite sure yet,” Miller estimated.
So far this year, Idaho saw 48,000 acres of state land burn in 292 fires.
“We’re not out of the woods yet,” Miller said.
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Idaho Business Review, 9-17-24
Eight properties with a combined appraisal value of $10.9 million are up for auction by a state agency.
The Idaho Department of Lands will be auctioning the properties on Priest Lake on Sept. 21 in Coeur d’Alene at 10:30 a.m.
Properties are all lots with cabins and are under lease. The IDL holds the lands in trust for public schools beneficiaries, it stated, but cabins and improvements on the lands are owned by the leaseholders as personal property.
According to IDL, “The current leaseholders applied to participate in the auction. If the high bid is from someone other than the current leaseholder, the winning bidder must pay the leaseholder the appraised value of the home and personal property on the land at the time of the auction.”
The State Board of Land Commissioners, which manages the endowment lands through IDL, voted to auction off the properties rather than to continue leasing them.
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IDL director: Idaho's fire season winding down, but not over yet
Idaho Press, 9-17-24
BOISE — Amid an active wildfire season, recent rains have reduced Idaho’s fire risk, but the state’s “not out of the woods yet,” according to Idaho Department of Lands Director Dustin Miller.
“Folks are going to want to start burning, I know some of the other larger land managers are going to want to start doing more prescribed burning this fall, but we need to stay diligent,” Miller said. “We need to continue to get rainstorms to stack up to really, really put us in good shape.”
Miller gave the Idaho State Board of Land Commissioners a monthly fire report at a Tuesday morning meeting, which also included approval of the department’s annual budget request and an overview of how the education department’s Career Ready Students program was supporting forestry education.
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State of Idaho facing $45.8M in estimated wildfire expenses this year
Idaho Capital Sun, 9-17-24
With the state facing an estimated $45.8 million in wildfire expenses so far this season, Idaho Gov. Brad Little and other state officials are discussing the need to replenish the fund before next year.
During the last legislative session, the state pre-funded its emergency fire suppression fund at about $68 million, Idaho Department of Lands Director Dustin Miller said Tuesday. Miller briefed Little and other state officials Tuesday during a meeting of the State Board of Land Examiners at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise.
So far this year, the state has spent an estimated $51.1 million, about $5.2 million of which is reimbursable costs, Miller said. That leaves the state on the hook for about $45.8 million so far.
“Here we are, mid-September, we’ve got rain,” Miller said. “Things are winding down, but that doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods yet. But I’m confident that we will not go past that amount that’s been pre-funded. But certainly we would welcome any opportunity to have that conversation about pre-funding this suppression account again ahead of the next legislative session.”
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Idaho Department of Lands meet to discuss costs of wildfires
KMVT, 9-17-24
BOISE, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — The Land Board of Commissioners received an update on fires in the state and their cost to the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) in Boise on Tuesday.
The board receives this information monthly during the fire season.
So far, the state has 180 human-caused fires and 112 lightning-caused fires, for a total of 292 fires. The total acres burned are 48,336.
IDL has three significant fires in their district: Chimney, Flat, and County Line.
The Chimney Fire is part of the mixed ownership controlled by the IDL.
“This is your current fire season update emergency of September 13 fire expression expenditures are estimated to be $51,132,500,” IDL Director Dustin Miller said. “The suppression account will recover an estimated $5,154,000 of reimbursable costs, for a net obligation of $45,798,500.”
This cost includes 2024 contracted aircraft and propositioned contract engines across the state.
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From ‘Sheep’ & ‘Goat’ to ‘Not Creative’: How Idaho wildfires are named
Boisedev, 9-17-24
The Frangelica, Wapiti, Lava, Goose Chase, Cotton, and Willow Fires are just a handful of the dozens of wildfires burning more than 625 square miles in Idaho.
When looking at the Idaho fire map, it’s hard not to notice the variety of names for fires. However, the system for naming them is pretty straightforward and based on the fires’ locations.
“We usually name fires based on the closest drainage, landmark, or road,” the Bureau of Land Management Boise District Office’s Chad Cline said. “Either the dispatch that’s plotting the fire or the incident commander that gets to the fire first chooses the name.”
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Idaho Department of Lands auctioning 8 Priest Lake properties with cabins
KHQ, 9-16-24
PRIEST LAKE, Idaho — The Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) is auctioning eight state-owned lots on Priest Lake.
These lots, currently leased and featuring cabins, are managed by IDL in trust for Public Schools. While the land belongs to the state, the cabins and improvements are owned by the current leaseholders.
Bidders should note that if the highest bid comes from someone other than the leaseholder, they must compensate the leaseholder for the estimated value of the cabin and personal property.
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Idaho Department of Lands auctioning off eight state endowment-owned lots on Priest Lake
KREM2, 9-16-24
PRIEST LAKE, Idaho — The Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) is auctioning off eight state endowment-owned lots on Priest Lake valued at a combined nearly $11 million.
IDL said all lots are under lease with cabins on them, and the land is held in trust by IDL for Public Schools beneficiaries.
However, IDL also said the cabins and other improvements on the land are owned by lease owners as personal property.
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Cooperative Smoke Message for Prescribed Fire
Dailyfly, 9-14-24
Prescribed fire is an important tool for both the forestry and agricultural communities. Fire benefits the ecosystem by decreasing or slowing diseases, stimulating growth, and reducing the potential for severe wildfires. Prescribed burning only occurs when it is allowed by fire and smoke management authorities.
Smoke is a byproduct of all sources of fire. Therefore, when managing smoke, a number of factors are considered to determine if prescribed fire will be allowed. These include:
- the number of fires burning or planned in the area
- the amount of smoke already in the airshed
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the current and projected weather and air quality conditions
- coordination between agencies and other landowners that conduct and/or manage prescribed fire
...
Agencies:
Idaho Department of Lands, Maggie Creek Area – Kamiah,
Bureau of Land Management,
Nez Perce Tribe Air Quality,
Idaho Department of Lands, Craig Mountain Area – Craigmont,
Idaho Department of Environmental Quality,
Nez Perce Tribe Forestry and Fire Management,
Idaho Prescribed Fire Council,
Idaho Department of Lands, Ponderosa Area – Deary,
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IDL Wildfire News
Chimney Fire at 43% containment as no fire growth observed over Monday
KMVT, 9-17-24
FAIRFIELD, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — Fire crews have increased the containment of the Frog Fire to 43% and halted its growth, which remains at 6,519 acres as of Tuesday morning.
Firefighters added containment on the fire’s southern and eastern flanks, according to the Chimney Fire Information team. Fire behavior is limited to heat in dead timber that has not entirely burned in the fire’s interior.
Medical units conducted training to help firefighters prepare for possible emergency scenarios like rescues and how to apply tourniquets, according to fire officials. Crews also expect minimal fire spread and will continue to monitor the area.
Fire managers expect cooler temperatures and thunderstorms with up to 50 mph gusts on Tuesday, according to fire officials. Fire crews are monitoring potential lightning for any incoming storms.
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Fire Prevention Friday
Posted September 20, 2024
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