Current News Coverage
The crippling costs of wildfires: Why Idaho can’t afford to take over federal lands - Opinion
Idaho Statesman, 2-13-25
Tuesday’s meeting of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, the part of the Legislature that writes state budgets, contained an important lesson about the dangers of the federal land-grabbing movement.
That movement has been revived by a recent lawsuit filed by the state of Utah — which Attorney General Raúl Labrador decided to slap your name on. That lawsuit asked the U.S. Supreme Court to force the federal government to “dispose of” vast swaths of public lands throughout the West. The Supreme Court refused to hear the meritless case, but it’s likely the case will be refiled in a lower court.
Tuesday’s hearing was focused on the Idaho Department of Lands, which oversees state endowment lands — public land set aside at the state’s founding to be managed for the benefit of public schools.
Sen. Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise, posed an important question: What would it cost Idaho to fight wildfires if it became responsible for all the federal land in the state?
“That would be a significant fire bill for us to pay,” said Department of Lands Director Dustin Miller. “I don’t think we could afford to pay that bill.” He’s right.
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Idaho Lands Director: Idaho fire fund could drop to $13M by 2026
KREM, 2-12-25
BOISE, Idaho — The Idaho Department of Lands director told state budget writers Tuesday that there would be a significant challenge if the wildfire suppression fund isn’t replenished after a very active fire season.
Director Dustin Miller told members of the Joint Finance and Appropriation Committee that the state’s Fire Suppression Deficiency Fund, which in 2023 had been raised to total around $68 million, would dip to around $13 million in fiscal year 2026 if the governor’s budget recommendation of adding a total of $100 million to the account wasn’t taken.
There is about $35.8 million currently in the account; however, Miller said that it’s unclear exactly how much will be left after the state finishes cost-sharing payments and reimbursements with federal partners.
The governor’s budget recommendation includes providing a supplemental appropriation for the current fiscal year of $60 million and another $40 million for fiscal year 2026.
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Guest Column: Ongoing fire suppression funding needed now
Idaho County Free Press, 2-12-25
Wildfire is a big part of life in the West, but how states prepare and respond to it can vary greatly. Let us give you an example.
A few months ago, the governor of Oregon had to call a special legislative session to pay the state’s fire bills for the 2024 fire season.
In Idaho, we had the resources ready to pay firefighters and contractors for their work on our fires, thanks to the good sense of our governor and Idaho Legislature in ensuring the state’s fire suppression account was adequately funded.
Our state leaders have a superior track record of giving us as fire managers the tools we need to expedite initial attacks on wildfires, thereby limiting overall fire costs. In fact, the State of Idaho’s fire suppression costs are nearly seven times less than our federal partners!
Lands near Payette Lake, Tamarack Resort at center of new land exchange proposal
Boise dev, 2-11-25
More than 2,000 acres of state endowment land around Payette Lake would become part of the Payette National Forest under an exchange being negotiated by the Forest Service and the Idaho Department of Lands.
Valley Lookout obtained details on the negotiations, which remain in progress, by obtaining public records under the Idaho Public Records Act
The records include email conversations, voicemails, documents, and maps distributed between the agencies since last March, when the Forest Service presented an initial offer to IDL.
Details regarding the land exchange as currently proposed have not been publicly disclosed prior to this reporting. The agencies discussed a much larger land exchange in 2021, as BoiseDev reported, but that proposal did not advance beyond preliminary stages.
IDL Director: Agency will face challenges if fire suppression fund isn't restored
Idaho Press, 2-11-25
BOISE — The Idaho Department of Lands director told state budget-writers Tuesday that there would be a significant challenge if the wildfire suppression fund isn’t replenished after a very active fire season.
Director Dustin Miller told members of the Joint Finance and Appropriation Committee (JFAC) that the state’s Fire Suppression Deficiency Fund, which in 2023 had been raised to total around $68 million, would dip to around $13 million in fiscal year 2026 if the governor’s budget recommendation of adding a total of $100 million to the account wasn’t taken.
There is about $35.8 million currently in the account; however, Miller said that it’s unclear exactly how much will be left after the state finishes cost-sharing payments and reimbursements with federal partners.
The governor’s budget recommendation includes providing a supplemental appropriation for the current fiscal year of $60 million and another $40 million for fiscal year 2026.
In October, Miller reported the state at that point had spent more than $50 million on fire suppression in 2024, the Idaho Press reported.
Miller also faced questions about state management of fires and lands versus federal management. Federal agencies, such as the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service, oversee 34.5 million acres of lands in Idaho — nearly two-thirds of the state’s total landmass.
The state manages about 2.5 million acres of state endowment land.
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NALC news release: Federal-private split estates: public lands and ag on Western Conference agenda
The National Agricultural Law Center, 2-10-25
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — You may own land, but does the federal government own what’s underneath?
A significant portion of federally owned land in the U.S. is located out West. For instance, of the 53.5 million acres in Idaho that make up its land mass, 34.5 million, or nearly 65 percent, are federally-owned, according to the Idaho Department of Lands. While landowners may have rights to what’s on the surface, the area below may belong to the government if the land is a federal-private split estate.
A session at the 3rd Annual Western Water, Agricultural, and Environmental Law Conference will detail federal-private split estates, particularly those existing under the Stock-Raising Homestead Act of 1916, or SRHA. Holland and Hart LLP Associate Katy DeVries Riker, who specializes in environmental and natural resource law, will lead the session, titled, “Federal-Private Split Estate: Considerations for Living and Operating on Stock-Raising Homestead Act Lands.”
After it was enacted over a century ago, the SRHA resulted in millions of acres of public lands being privatized.
“While the SRHA provided homesteaders with the ability to own and occupy the land’s surface, it severed and reserved what’s below the surface – or the mineral estate – to the U.S.,” Riker said. “It’s had a tremendous impact on our country and how landowners are allowed to operate, especially in the Western U.S. It is still a topic that raises many questions for those who live and run their agricultural operations on these lands.”
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Spokane River marina expansion raises concerns in Post Falls
FOX28, 2-8-25
POST FALLS, Idaho – The Spokane River in Post Falls may soon see increased activity, sparking concerns among some locals.
A meeting was held by those opposing the marina expansion at Red Lion Templin’s Hotel. The proposed plans include 127 new boat slips and additional fuel stations.
Residents are calling for a traffic study to assess safe traffic levels on the river. A hearing on the issue took place in December.
The group claims the Idaho Department of Lands is advancing the project despite their concerns.
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Tensions brew over Post Falls Marina expansion proposal
KXLY, 2-8-25
POST FALLS, Idaho -- Tensions are rising in Post Falls over a proposed marina expansion. While a hearing officer recommended moving forward with the project on Friday, the community does not plan on backing down yet.
The proposed expansion plans add 127 new boat slips, a new ship store, and more. Supporters believe this is needed to reinvigorate the area, but opponents think it will ruin it.
Community members gathered at the Post Falls Library Saturday afternoon brainstorming how to stop the expansion.
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Spokane River marina expansion raises concerns in Post Falls
KHQ, 2-8-25
POST FALLS, Idaho – The Spokane River in Post Falls may soon see increased activity, sparking concerns among some locals.
A meeting was held by those opposing the marina expansion at Red Lion Templin's Hotel. The proposed plans include 127 new boat slips and additional fuel stations.
Residents are calling for a traffic study to assess safe traffic levels on the river. A hearing on the issue took place in December.
The group claims the Idaho Department of Lands is advancing the project despite their concerns.
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Register Now for Women in the Woods!
Posted February 14, 2025
IDL and U of I Extension present the 3rd Annual Women in the Woods Workshop on April 4, 2025! The women-centric forest management workshop introduces resources and new forestry topics. A forestry professionals panel will describe available management resources for new attendees. Guest speaker Terri Jane will explain forest succession and its role in North Idaho’s forests for returning attendees. Register at www.bit.ly/clearwater_events. $…
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Happy Valentine's Day
Posted February 14, 2025
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