Senate Bill 1232: still a B-a-a-a-a-a-a-d idea for bighorn sheep

On Saturday, Governor Otter vetoed Senate Bill 1175A which would have directed Fish and Game to remove or kill bighorn sheep that “invade” domestic sheep allotments on public land. Governor Otter cited concerns about unintended effects of the bill on domestic sheep, and bighorn sheep and his own advisory group that is working on a long term strategy to avoid future conflicts.

But in what some members of the group are calling a “bait and switch,” on Friday Senator Siddoway introduced yet another bighorn sheep bill. Although the language in S1232 is less inflammatory than S1175, several members of the collaborative view the new bill as “Senate Bill 1175 in sheep’s clothing.” They point out this new legislation again hampers Fish and Game’s ability to manage bighorn sheep and that the end result will be the same: Fish and Game will have to shoot bighorn sheep. Even with these actions, remnant bighorn herds will probably continue to die of disease.

Several members of the collaborative group have contacted me to say they see no reason to continue with the collaborative effort if this latest legislation passes. Because of the abbreviated legislative schedule this week, there will be no opportunity for members of the public to testify on this bill.

Will It Ever End?

By Courtney Washburn, Community Conservation Director-

No one seems to know when the Idaho legislative session will end but what we do know is how much it is costing. The session has run 99 days at a cost of $30,000 a day. I am not a math whiz but according to my calculator the total puts us just shy of $3 million dollars. So far this is the second longest session in Idaho’s history and with the declining state budget it seems to me lawmakers could find something better to do with the money.

To read more about the politics behind this long session check out the editorial in the Idaho Statesman.

Aquatic Invaders

By Courtney Washburn, Community Conservation Director-

Some call them noxious invaders, some prefer invasive species or weeds, whatever you choose to call them everyone agrees that we don’t want them. Rep. Anderson (R-1) introduced HB 213 which would provide the much-needed funds to protect Idaho’s waterways. The proposed boat tag program would require boat owners to buy a sticker to fund to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. The sticker would cost $10 for in state motorized boats, $20 for out of state motorized boats and $5 for non-motorized boats.

These freshwater, bivalve mollusks have invaded many lakes and reservoirs in states surrounding Idaho. They are small but bring a whole host of problems. They can destroy native aquatic ecosystems, water treatment facilities, dams, and irrigation equipment, just to name a few. They attach to any hard surface, including the shells of native mussels and turtles. Estimates show that the monitoring and control of zebra and quagga mussels would cost at least $94 million dollars a year.

To learn more about the spread of quagga and zebra mussels in the western US go to 100th Meridian Initiative .

Money, Money, Money

By Courtney Washburn, Community Conservation Director-

If you are like me, you are trying to figure out how Idaho might benefit from the stimulus money since we will probably never see this much money at one time again.  I am sharing the highlights below but for the details check out the various requests and recommendations.   This will be the subject of debate in the days to come.

• Energy Resources $28,500,000 for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects
• Health and Welfare $31,470,000 for weatherization projects
• Environmental Quality $61,894,000 for drinking and waste water projects, clean up for the Bunker Hill superfund site

This is big money and these seem like great places to spend it!

Insult to injury added in Senate

Susan Drumheller, North Idaho Associate

The state Senate passed a resolution Tuesday rejecting the proposed Idaho Department of Environmental Quality rules to improve septic system design standards.  The proposed rules are meant to protect surface water quality from failing septic systems near waterways.
The rules also failed in the House.

The Panhandle Health District has been trying to get the rules improved for years based on ample evidence that Idaho’s design standards are too lenient and put our lakes and rivers at risk. (The risk is even greater on Lake Coeur d’Alene, where increased nutrients from sources such as leaky septic systems will – through a chemical reaction in the lake – exacerbate the heavy metal pollution now mostly trapped in lakebed sediments.)

The statewide building and real estate industry protested the rules, however, and their organized opposition led to the failure of the improved standards.

The Spokesman-Review’s Betsy Russell reported on the hearing in her Eye on Boise Blog:
“Sen. Kate Kelly, D-Boise, said the DEQ conducted an extensive and inclusive negotiated rule-making process before bringing the new septic rules to its board for approval. `This was a very deliberative, inclusive process,’ she said. `When these systems start failing, it’s going to affect our water quality and it’s going to affect our tourism. It’s going to affect all sorts of things.’ ”

. . . like lakefront property values when algae blooms become a more common occurrence in our lovely lakes.

Support voiced for Coeur d’Alene Lake Management Plan

By Susan Drumheller, North Idaho Associate –

It’s heartening to hear words of support from North Idaho legislators for funding the Coeur d’Alene Lake Management Plan.  Also, it appears that county commissioners in Kootenai, Benewah and Shoshone counties are beginning to see the wisdom of supporting this effort to protect the lake and keep it off the National Priorities List of Superfund.

Sen. Mike Jorgenson, R-Hayden Lake, said at a Friday Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee meeting that the plan “is the barest minimum we can do,” according to the Spokesman-Review’s Betsy Russell.

He’s right.

The plan is the result of a mediated agreement between the state and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, and calls for voluntary measures to control nutrients and other pollutants from getting into the lake, and keeping heavy metals from historic mining operations trapped in the lakebed sediments. The cornerstones of the plan are constant lake monitoring and public education.

The Coeur d’Alene Tribe, which owns the southern third of the lake, has pledged to pay half the costs of the new plan, and the Department of Environmental Quality is seeking legislative approval for the other half. This program is one the state can’t afford not to fund.

Don’t Move a Mussel

By Courtney Washburn, Community Conservation Director-

This is the theme of a collaborative effort between state and federal agencies and organizations brought together under the 100th Meridian Initiative.  The purpose of the effort is to prevent the spread of quagga and zebra mussels into the western US.

All watercraft and equipment like waders are potential vectors for spreading aquatic nuisance species. Mussels are can be hard to detect and they are often spread to waterways without anyone realizing. We need everyone’s help to protect Idaho’s waterways, which are not yet infested. Check your boat and trailer every time, before you transport your boat.

Because these mussels have not been found in Idaho waters, we need to act fast to keep it that way.  Sen. Tim Corder (R-22) and Rep. Eric Anderson (R-1) are leading the effort to ensure we have a plan in place to protect the waters of Idaho.  Idaho needs a comprehensive prevention plan with funding for things like boat wash stations, public education and enforcement.

Idaho Rejects Septic Tank Regulations

By Courtney Washburn, Community Conservation Director-

Who wants poop in their water?  Apparently the majority of Idaho Legislators do, by rejecting septic tank regulations, we can expect declining water quality and an increase threat to public health.  In an effort backed by the Idaho Realtors Association two committees voted to reject stronger rules for septic tanks which were result of negotiated rule making and presented by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.

The Times News editorial today points out that legislative connections trumped public health.

Transportation in Need of Retooling

By Sara Cohn, Community Conservation Associate-

Last year, in the face of a looming transportation-funding crisis, the Idaho legislature hesitated to provide money to the Idaho Transportation Department amidst doubt over how that money would be handled. Instead, the legislature called for an audit that looked at all aspects of ITDs day-to-day operations.

The result was over 50 recommendations that would increase efficiency and improve project management. In order to use money efficiently, ITD will have to re-examine how it does business.

According to the report, ITD is currently operating without a comprehensive statewide transportation strategy, without financial planning, without technology all other states in the nation use for managing complex maintenance needs, and with decentralized and inconsistent decision-making. Idaho is taking a back seat when in comes to transportation planning and funding. With the findings provided by the auditors, ITD and the legislature have been given the map that will help Idaho navigate its way our of this transportation crisis. With a retooling of ITD and action taken by the legislature to aid in this restructuring, additional funding could be used more efficiently to ensure that Idaho’s transportation system is functional and safe.

To access the report – go here

Questions Remain on Wolves

By Courtney Washburn, Community Conservation Director-

The status of Idaho’s wolf population was at the center of a heated legislative committee meeting on Wednesday.  Idaho Fish and Game and the Office of Species Conservation updated a Senate Committee on the management of wolves in Idaho.  The bulk of the discussion centered on ensuring Idaho is empowered to manage its wolf populations instead of the federal government.

Questions that remain unanswered include what impact will the new federal administration have on the issue, should the state sue the federal government to allow Idaho to management wolves, what is the actual impact of wolves on elk?