DEPARTMENT OF LANDS UPDATE
On Tuesday, June 20, 2023, the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) met to discuss the update on Trust Land revenue, Endowment Fund Investment Board, and an informational section of the pre-season fire forecast. State Controller Woolf made a motion to increase Dustin Miller’s pay by 4%, which was unanimously approved. State Controller Woolf made a comment on the motion of his support for Dustin Miller, thanking him for all of his hard work as a director. As well as noticing his team and all that they have done, stating that he is well deserving of this raise.
Dustin Miller, IDL Director, gave updates to the Board, he began by discussing the trust land revenue: May 2023 timber sales, leases, and permits. Northern operations have three sales valued at $4.7M, but it is valued much lower since the sales are sold by the ton and only a few by scale. This includes the longer hauls to southern mills which are sold by the ton. As of May 31, 2023, the Department has sixty-seven timber contracts valued at $163M. For the FY to date, the timber is valued at $74M, it is expected that the June sales are likely to have high yields. They are at 99% about the way with 100% of the harvest. For the lumber, it is a flat continued rate they have seen.
Chris Anton, Endowment Fund Investment Board (EFIB) Manager of Investments, briefly went over the Endowment Fund Investment Board. He shared that in the Endowment transactions for May, the Department issued thirty (30) pieces of equipment. Of this equipment, the trust land management discussed the timber sales where they exceeded revenue goals, and how they could use equipment to support them in improving sales. It is up to several groups such as those in agriculture, communication sites, and other programs in commercial, industrial, EFIB offices, and recreation. He shared that they are looking for a new manager and through the interview process they will still have the same manager until the replacement is ready, so no sales or big caps go unnoticed.
Craig Foss, State Forester and Division Administrator of Forestry and Fire, gave an update on the pre-season fire forecast. He turned his time to Nick Nauslar, Fire Meteorologist at BLM, who gave a presentation on the Predictive Services Forest. He first shared the drought monitor and explained that there have been fewer droughts than in past years, with significant improvements across the western and southwest areas. As for Idaho, there were droughts in Northern Idaho that were moderate to dry.
Fuel loading in the Idaho range lands area is above normal. As for southern Idaho, it is still waiting on sampling due to recent wet weather and it still needs time to dry out. They are anticipating more fire potential and action in July-August, due to fuel loading and likely curing of this fuel. They’ve seen rapid snowmelt since late April which is much faster than the normal record. He discussed the weather phrases El Niño and La Niño refers to conditions that lead to more wet and snowy conditions and La El Niño is here after having a three (3) year triple dip of La Niña. Through their Climate Protection Center (CPC), they have been able to predict that in July there will be target areas in Northern Idaho and the panhandle, as well as the southwestern region of Idaho. In August they expect the same areas to be hit but an increase, then September is when it starts to slow down and decrease in area covered. As for the rangeland in southwest Idaho, forecasts have above-normal significant fire potential from July through August caused by the grass fuel.
Josh Harvey, Bureau Chief-Fire Management, gave a report on the resource readiness and rangeland fire protection associations. He shared that of seventy-two (72) fires, eighteen (18) were caused by lightning, twelve (12) are under investigation, and forty-two (42) were human caused. As for the aircraft under contract available statewide, they have an exclusive helicopter manager and are capable of carrying around 300 gallons of water crew members, and two (2) pilots. The first thing the helicopters dump is the fire retardant followed by water from the nearest water source. In addition to the exclusive aviation agreements, there are other aircraft to call when needed as well. There is a system for another drone, and they are building capacity to provide safety for ongoing fire incidents and finding small incidents before they get larger. IDL currently has twenty-eight (28) engines.
The Land Board then took up Bear Lake Management. There have been problems with what Bear Lake County and the IDL can do. The Land Board has regulatory use and disposition, as it is in both Idaho and Utah, Idaho claims control over the lake. In the memorandum written is an understanding between Bear Lake County and the Idaho State Board of Land Commissioners. This MOU states one party does not override the other and both parties must sign all documents. The purpose of this was to not limit, construe, or expand anything, but to clarify the existing statutory and regulatory responsibilities. There is currently an order to restrict access to a certain area of water unless monitored by the county. For continued enforcement of the Board, the Land Board will provide a revised order with less authority and gives IDL more clarity. The revised order prohibits overnight camping, littering, waste digging, depositing foreign materials in the sand, and construction of new fences or buildings. The memorandum outlines the authority of both the Land Board and Bear Lake County. There were three (3) testimonies in support, all coming from Bear Lake County.
Sheriff Brent Bunn, Bear Lake County, shared that the town's primary issues are the preservation of Bear Lake, and he asked for the support of the MOU. Without the responsibility of use, there’s no way to preserve it. It does not damage the use or offer the right to use the Board, it could take great strides in preserving. The proposed guidelines have been used with many statutes, so it is important to know where the authority lies. He discussed the need for more authority and help with the resources of monitoring the resolutions and growth coming from the land.
State Controller Woolf made a motion to prohibit activities on the bed of Bear Lake and approve the draft provided with striking the fourth paragraph that states:
“Nothing in this agreement shall be constructed as limiting or expanding the existing statutory or regulatory responsibilities of the Land Board, IDL, or the County in performing the powers and functions granted to them by law, including but not limited to any existing law enforcement authority of the county. Each and every provision for this Agreement is subject to the laws and regulations of the State of Idaho.”
Controller Woolf amended the MOU to add a sunset date of the end of April 2024. Superintendent Critchfield seconded the motion, and the motion was approved. State Controller Woolf made a comment on his motion that adding the sunset date would encourage and give time for the Legislature to come up with something to help with the Bear Lake initiative and comply with state law. He wants to find ways to preserve this incredible resource.