Idaho Department of Lands

The Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) is a state-level government agency of Idaho that manages State Trust Lands. IDL oversees forestry practices on state lands and some regulation of mining practices, as well as administering forestry programs and providing fire protection and prevention on state lands. IDL operates under the Idaho State Board of Land Commissioners and is the administrative arm of the Idaho Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.[3]

Idaho Department of Lands (IDL)
Agency overview
Formed1919[1]
Preceding agencies
  • Department of Public Lands[1]
  • Land Department[1]
JurisdictionIdaho
Headquarters300 N. 6th Street, Suite 103 Boise, Idaho 83702
Employees282 (2016)[2]
Agency executives
  • Dustin Miller, Director[3]
  • David Groeschl, Deputy Director, State Forester[3]
Websitehttp://www.idl.idaho.gov/

The Idaho Department of Lands staffs 16 offices and manages 2.5 million acres under a constitutional mandate on State Trust Lands to maximize long term returns. These returns help fund Idaho public schools and other state institutions.

Programs and responsibilities

Different duties under the IDL include the forestry program, fire program, mining industry regulations, and the Idaho oil and gas conservation commission.[4]

Fire program

The IDL works for the protection of more than 6 million acres of land. The IDL is responsible for the fire protection and conservation of state and private forest lands.[5] The IDL also provides services for families to help cope with losses due to forest fire.[5] The IDL works in coordination with two timber protective associations, U.S. Forest Service, and the Idaho State Fire Plan Working Group.[6]

Mining Industry Regulations

The IDL does regulate surface mining and the surface effects of underground mining in the state of Idaho.[7] The IDL does not regulate patented and non-patented mining claims.[7] The IDL does not regulate recreational suction dredge mining. Recreational dredge mining is regulated by the Stream Channel Protection Act administered by the Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR).[7]

Forestry Management

Hundreds of professionals are employed by the IDL and are a part of the forestry related field. Timber assets are managed for the benefit and funding towards public schools and other beneficiaries. Private landowners are assisted by Private Forestry Specialists and harvest operators in order to keep forest protection laws in check and private sections of forests maintained.[8]

Timber management is the main income for the endowment trust. The IDL heavily manages the harvest of timber on the state endowment trust forest lands.[9] The IDL along with the Bureau of Land Management has responsibilities maintaining private forests and timber consumption and production.

References
  1. Andrus, Alyn Brown (1965). A History of Idaho's Public School Lands as a Source of Revenue for Public Education in Idaho. Pocatello, ID: Idaho State University. pp. 40–59.
  2. "2016 Annual Report" (PDF). IDL Annual Reports. Idaho Department of Lands. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  3. "About Us". Idaho Department of Lands. idaho.gov. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  4. "About us, Idaho Department of Lands". www.idl.idaho.gov. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  5. "Fire Program, Idaho Department of Lands".
  6. "Idaho Interagency Coordination Guide" (PDF).
  7. Idaho, State of. "Mining Industry". www.idl.idaho.gov. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
  8. "IDL Forestry".
  9. "IDL Timber Management".



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