ICL In the News

ICL Wildlife Advocate, Jeff Abrams: "We feel like the SWAP is an incredible opportunity to advance maintaining our state’s precious wildlife resources."

AP News

Read More

Idaho officials violated the federal Clean Air Act as well as the state’s regulations by issuing an air quality permit for a proposed gold mine in west-central Idaho, the Nez Perce Tribe and two conservation groups said.

AP News

Read More

Josh Johnson, acting Central Idaho director for the Idaho Conservation League, told the Express that ICL would be fighting the renewed proposal along with Advocates for the West and described AT&T’s effort to install a commercial tower as a “classic bait-and-switch.”

Idaho Mountain Express

Read More

Josh Johnson, ICL Senior Conservation Associate: “..despite going through three rounds of public comment, this air quality permit still fails to address all of the health concerns the public raised, leading (Idaho Conservation League) and our partners to appeal the decision.”

Idaho Press

Read More

Read More

ICL North Idaho Lakes Conservation Associate, Jennifer Ekstrom: "Contaminated surface water could also carry nutrients into the near shore area of Lake Pend Oreille. … Any additional nutrients will increase susceptibility to toxic algae blooms and weeds.”

Bonner County Daily Bee

Read More

ICL External Relations Director, Jonathan Oppenheimer, stopped by Idaho Today to talk about our mission and how Idahoans can help protect the environment.

KTVB

Read More

ICL Conservation Program Director, Marie Kellner: "These are collective problems for all of humanity, and this decision made it that much harder for the states, the utilities, the regulators that had not yet made clean energy commitments," she said. "This allows them a little more time to be reliant on these fuels that are making people sick, and that are heating up the world."

Public News Service

Read More

Jennifer Ekstrom of the Idaho Conservation League called on the county to rescind its approval of MLD 0143-21, situated in the Coolin wetlands on the shores of Priest Lake.

Bonner County Daily Bee

Read More

"We appreciate efforts to clean up abandon mine sites, but we are really concerned about Perpetua’s larger open pit mine plan for the area," said John Robison of the Idaho Conservation League.

Idaho News 6

Read More

Idaho is home to the best salmon habitat remaining in the lower 48. Our high mountain rivers can act as a stronghold against the effects of climate change, if salmon are able to come home safely. This can only be achieved by providing the most favorable and consistent river migration conditions possible.

Read More

The Biden administration on Tuesday released two reports arguing that removing dams on the lower Snake River may be needed to restore salmon runs to sustainable levels in the Pacific Northwest.

KTVB

Read More

"If dam removal is not part of the strategy it won't work in order to save those salmon we need to remove those dams and we need to do that pretty soon," said Justin Hayes of the Idaho Conservation League, who applauded the reports from the White House.

Idaho News 6

Read More

Read More

Jonathan Oppenheimer, ICL External Relations Director, “Part of the reason we are seeing such growth in the West is accessibility to these public lands,” he said. “If there is more pressure to sell off or privatize public lands, it will have a negative impact on these growing communities.”

AP News

Read More

The proposed project is expected to result in a 20% loss of fish habitat. “That is not an acceptable trade-off for us, or the Nez Perce." - ICL Conservation Associate, Randy Fox.

Idaho Press

Read More

Vehicle emissions tests are one of the few tools we have to keep our air healthy and clean.

Idaho Statesman

Read More

ICL Conservation Program Director, Marie Kellner: "Here in Idaho, we're moving in the right direction and I actually don't have a lot of concern that this opinion is going to change or reverse that direction, because the the market's already making it happen," she said. "We're moving in that way."

Public News Service

Read More

ICL Executive Director, Justin Hayes: “It makes it very clear that removing the four lower Snake River dams needs to occur if we’re going to restore abundant salmon and steelhead into Idaho."

Boise State Public Radio

Read More

“This is a very high-profile and high-conservation-value property. We would like to see it preserved in some way, shape or form to have it conserved for the benefit of all Idahoans.”

AP News

Read More

"I urge readers to call Sen. Crapo’s office and ask him how he wants to be remembered by today’s youth for restoring the wild Lower Snake River and bringing our salmon home or damming these fish, and everything they mean for our communities, to extinction."

Idaho Statesman

Read More

“We're concerned that selling off this gem of an island in the middle of payout like is really sending the wrong message and is ultimately going to end up in more no trespassing signs going up."

KTVB

Read More

As it proceeds toward a clean-energy future, Idaho Power plans to exit a nearly 50-year-old Wyoming coal plant sooner rather than later, in part by converting parts of the coal plant to natural gas.

Idaho Statesman

Read More

Brad Smith, ICL's North Idaho Director: “We are in a kind of a make-or-break moment. And we have a chance to protect the wolverine and make sure future Idahoans can also see the wolverine when we recreate in the mountains of Idaho, but if we don’t act soon, our children and grandchildren may not get to have that chance."

Idaho Capital Sun

Read More

Read More

“The Kilgore Project site is also home to individuals and habitat for numerous special-status and at-risk terrestrial species of wildlife and plants, including grizzly bear, wolverine, lynx, elk, whitebark pine, and others found in the Centennial Mountains."

ABC News

Read More

Mitch Cutter, ICL's Salmon and Steelhead Associate: “The Snake River and its tributaries is a stronghold for salmon against the effects of climate change. Similarly, our energy system can become a stronghold through development of diversified, clean energy resources."

Idaho Mountain Express

Read More

Randy Fox, ICL’s West Central Idaho Conservation Associate: “We owe a debt of gratitude to these community leaders, who care so deeply about protecting the public lands and pristine waters that we all must share and steward.”

Idaho Press

Read More

John Robison, ICL's Public Lands Director: “This is a chance for the Fish and Wildlife Service, now that we have a level playing field, to go review the best available science and actually proceed based on the facts,” Robison said.

Boise State Public Radio

Read More

The Idaho Club must secure a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers in order to proceed with dredging and filling wetlands. The Idaho Conservation League and the Center for Biological Diversity will closely monitor the Corps’ permitting process and do everything we can to protect Trestle Creek and its fish and wildlife.

Bonner County Daily Bee

Read More

Brad Smith, ICL's North Idaho Director: “It’s time to take action. In my time working in conservation in Idaho, I’ve watched us lose our last caribou in the Lower 48. It would be tragic if we saw wolverines lost in the same way.”

Idaho Statesman

Read More

Jervois officials joined with the Idaho Conservation League last year to begin the effort and committed to giving away $150,000 a year for as long as they operate in Lemhi County. Projects eligible for funding must be focused on protection and restoration of fish and wildlife habitat in the Upper Salmon basin.

Challis Messenger

Read More

Read More

Guest Opinion by ICL's Salmon and Steelhead Associate, Mitch Cutter: "Restoring a free-flowing Snake River would ‘unlock’ the vast potential of Idaho’s salmon stronghold, and put Chinook on a real pathway to abundance. The time has come to bring back the Kings of Idaho."

Idaho Capital Sun

Read More

Read More

Josh Johnson of the Idaho Conservation League, a mining watchdog for almost 50 years, can’t help but point out that the only thing physically separating Jervois Global’s soon-to-open mine from the shuttered Blackbird is a single mountain. “The best we can hope for is responsible mining,” he says. “That’s what we hear a lot from the mining companies. You talk that you can have a modern mine that has minimal impacts? Well, let’s see it.”

Popsci+

Read More

A visit to Black Magic Canyon shows you how it earned its name. This unusual hidden canyon was carved by the Big Wood River over the last 10,000 years, and offers amazing views – twisting, smooth, black lava rock that features small arches, windows, holes and more.

Idaho Press

Read More

Community owned solar gives control over energy production back to the people. It grows our clean energy portfolio and promotes a resilient electric grid. Most importantly, it represents an innovative, democratic, and just way forward for electricity generation in our changing economy and environment.

Idaho State Journal

Read More

Read More

ICL Conservation Analyst, Dainee Gibson-Webb visited KTVB to talk about practical ways that Idahoans can celebrate Earth Day every day.

KTVB

Read More

"This will affect us the most, which is why we have to step in," Wilson said. "Even though youth aren't necessarily the people who started these issues...We are the ones who have to take care of it."

Idaho News 6

Read More

Read More

Justin Hayes visited with KTVB to talk about International Day of Action for Rivers and how Idahoans can get involved to protect these special places.

KTVB

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

"The students learned about the importance of salmon to the ecosystem and to indigenous people, and the impacts the four lower Snake River dams and climate change have on them."

Idaho Statesman

Read More

ICL's Public Lands Director visited KTVB to talk about National Wildlife Week and the importance of advocating for all of Idaho's creatures - big and small.

KTVB

Read More

"Those working to restore salmon and the communities and wild places that depend on them have been very upfront about wanting to work with those whose lives and jobs are tied to the dams. Salmon, orca, and Tribal justice advocates are committed to making all communities whole – those who have been reaping the benefits of the dams and those who have borne the costs."

The Spokesman-Review

Read More

"Justin Hayes of the Idaho Conservation League at Boise, said he is happy the administration recognizes a new strategy is needed. 'They are saying we cannot continue business as usual,' Hayes said. 'That is something many people in the region have been saying — tribes, conservation groups, fishing groups and even industry groups — that the status quo is not working and it’s time to do something very different.'

Lewiston Tribune

Read More

ICL's Youth Salmon Protectors headed to Garfield Elementary School in Boise to teach students about the impact of dams on salmon populations and ways that we can help salmon recovery. "The students listed different reasons they cared about the salmon. Tinsley McQueen, a fifth grade student in the class, wrote about orcas. 'I care about the salmon because they are important to the ecosystem, and the orcas are not breeding because they eat the salmon and there’s not enough,' 10-year-old Tinsley wrote."

Idaho Statesman

Read More

Read More

“Now it’s time to roll up our sleeves and go to work,” said Brad Smith, the North Idaho director of the Idaho Conservation League and a member of the working group. “I think what is important here is we all like to use the forest, but we can’t forget about wildlife. Winter is a particularly hard time for them, and they don’t have a voice in this process.”

The Spokesman-Review

Read More

The Idaho Conservation League opposes the bill and said any required updates to energy conservation codes, including the implementation of new technologies, pay off and help consumers. “It helps keep our monthly utility payments low by ensuring we are adopting these news standards and new codes,” said Jonathan Oppenheimer, the external affairs director.

Boise State Public Radio

Read More

Josh Johnson, Central Idaho conservation associate with the Idaho Conservation League, identified drought, human-wildlife coexistence, responsible recreation and responsible development as four main challenges for county residents. “We are not separate from the natural environment, and that’s a gift for us but it is also a responsibility,” Josh Johnson said.

Idaho Mountain Express

Read More

"Methane is huge," said Aly Bean, a climate coordinator with the organization. She said if the dairy industry wants to reach greenhouse gas neutrality by 2050, it has to start taking action somewhere. ICL also said there's lots of opportunity in Idaho to capture methane that would otherwise be released into the environment.

Boise State Public Radio

Read More

George Blackmon was one of the thousands to come to Idaho during the gold rush. "He was a long-time fixture and a miner and a prospector in the White Clouds and with someone who grew to prominence in the area," Hayes said. "I think that's indicated by fact that they named a peak after him."

KTVB

Read More

“Not adopting some of these sustainable practices isn’t a lack of desire, honestly, it’s just not economically feasible for them to do so,” said Aly Bean, a climate coordinator with the Idaho Conservation League. She said ICL is looking into how the Idaho Legislature could incentivize beneficial soil health practices like planting cover crops, perhaps by dedicating funds to local soil and water conservation districts.

Boise State Public Radio

Read More

Jonathan Oppenheimer, external relations director for the Idaho Conservation League, testified against the legislation Tuesday. “While we recognize that there has been forward progress relative to vehicle emissions, we remain concerned that it’s premature to remove some of these requirements,” Oppenheimer said.

Idaho Statesman

Read More

Ben Otto, of the Idaho Conservation League, said landfill gas projects are safer than traditional forms of extracting methane as natural gas fields, which often are from fossils. “There’s a lot of leaking that occurs, there’s fracking and a lot of water quality issues that come from drilling deep into the ground for gas,” Otto said.

Idaho Statesman

Read More

Read More

Read More

Idaho wildlife officials on Thursday approved expanding trapping for river otters despite widespread opposition. John Robison of the Idaho Conservation League called the commission’s decision to expand river otter trapping baffling. “Decisions like these tend to alienate large swaths of the public, just at a time when Fish and Game needs more volunteers, partners, and supporters than ever before to accomplish their mission.”

Read More

Commentary from ICL's former Executive Director, Pat Ford: "I hope Murray and Inslee come see the Middle Fork this spring. If they come, they will remember. They will also better know what Idaho mountain salmon can do for people, justice, orcas, and resilience in Washington, if the lower Snake River is freed."

Read More

"The success in the Skagit watershed provides an important stepping stone to achieve bilateral transboundary watershed protections but we need to start thinking about these issues on a much wider scale, not individual puzzle pieces,” said Ellie Hudson-Heck, Conservation Assistant with the Idaho Conservation League.

Conservation Northwest

Read More

“Do we have a moral obligation to mine cobalt here in the U.S.?” asks Idaho Conservation League Executive Director Justin Hayes. He suggests that the answer is yes: He’s well aware of the human-rights abuses documented in the Congo, and of the need to secure a reliable supply of cobalt in order to reduce the threat of climate change.

The Atlantic

Read More

"We don’t need another study or long process that only runs down the clock toward extinction. The science is clear: we must breach the dams within the next 10 years or wild salmon and the 137 animals which depend on them, thousands of years of tribal culture, will all be lost."

The Columbian

Read More

"These elected officials have shown that they don’t want to even come to the table and talk about dam breaching or engage in conversation with their constituents. I encourage Idaho politicians to take youth voices seriously, especially when robbing us and our descendants of once-renowned wild salmon and steelhead."

Idaho Statesman

Read More

"Right now we are damming our fish to extinction. And with it, we are letting everything that Idaho was founded on die."

Lewiston Tribune

Read More

"In my family, we believe that God created everything that is beautiful about the world. He put water in the rivers and oceans and he planted the forests that line their banks. He created the orcas to swim in the oceans and the eagles to fly in the sky. And then he created the salmon to connect all of these things."

Lewiston Tribune

Read More

"I believe that the spirit of Idaho lies in its wildlife. The salmon and steelhead are crucial to preserve the spirit of the beautiful wildlife in Idaho. If we kill the fish, we kill the precious spirit of our beloved state."

Idaho Statesman

Read More

"My grandpa grew up hunting and fishing in Idaho. Redfish Lake was a sacred place for him. He would always tell me stories about these beautiful fish painting the streams red as they returned to their spawning grounds to die."

Idaho Statesman

Read More

"I’m so excited that Congressman Simpson has given the Northwest a chance to save the salmon. I’m asking Sen. Mike Crapo to support Congressman Simpson’s Columbia Basin Initiative and breach the four Lower Snake River dams."

Idaho Statesman

Read More

"Idaho youth activists are making their voices heard once again, this time in regards to Rep. Mike Simpson’s (R-Idaho) Columbia Basin initiative that would ensure funding is set aside in the federal infrastructure bill to breach the four lower Snake River dams in order to save the state's dwindling wild salmon population."

Boise State Public Radio, Idaho Matters

Read More

"The students also want Sen. Crapo to engage and interact with young people around the state and take action for Idaho salmon."

Idaho Press, Eye on Boise

Read More

"I care about wild salmon and steelhead because the rivers that bring abundance to my home state depend on them. The outdoors are what make Idaho great. I‘ve grown up swimming, rafting, and fishing, and I can’t imagine generations after me not being able to do the same."

Idaho Statesman

Read More

"Decades ago, Crapo was influential in protecting the Owyhee Canyonlands and the Boulder-White Clouds. I only wish he was still willing to take bold action and find common ground with his colleagues across the aisle when so much hangs in the balance."

Idaho Statesman

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Josh Johnson, of the Idaho Conservation League, said his view is the new plan still doesn’t guarantee water quality despite the Forest Service reworking some requirements to protect nearby streams.

Post Register

Read More

The vigils in Idaho were organized by the Idaho Conservation League, Idaho Rivers United and the Sierra Club.

Idaho News 6

Read More

“One of the core things being studied for the new program is whether there should be a difference between what you pay to consume and the value of that export from your roof,” said Ben Otto, an energy associate with the Idaho Conservation League.

Boise State Public Radio

Read More

“In addition to creating serious water contamination and public health concerns, this ‘land applied’ manure is left to release methane into the atmosphere,” the ICL stated. “Capturing and burning this methane rather than letting it freely escape not only reduces the climate impact but also releases about one half the carbon dioxide as burning coal.”

Idaho Mountain Express

Read More

“It’s not to say we don’t sympathize with the counties, but from our perspective we don't see a whole lot of value in having a big number you can wave in the air," said Jonathan Oppenheimer of the Idaho Conservation League. "It really won't make much of a difference.”

U.S. News

Read More

It also serves as a meeting point for the Wildlife Smart Communities Coalition—an ongoing effort between Blaine County and its cities, Fish and Game, the U.S. Forest Service, the BLM and Idaho Conservation League to promote human-wildlife coexistence.

Idaho Mountain Express

Read More

Justin Hayes is the executive director of the Idaho Conservation League, among the groups that want to pause litigation.

Public News Service

Read More

Read More

Read More

The Idaho Conservation League, which raised concerns about the course expansion last December, celebrated the about-face in a note to supporters. The organization said more than 3,500 people signed a petition urging stakeholders to reject any applications the River Club submitted.

Idaho Statesman

Read More

“The message we got back was the Pacific Northwest Democrats didn’t think it was enough of a priority for the Administration to advance it at that time,” says Justin Hayes, the executive director of Idaho Conservation League, who was briefed on the White House meeting.

Time

Read More

“A lot of good work has already been done on this topic in the region, so there is no need to start from square one,” the group’s executive director, Justin Hayes, said. “I encourage Inslee and Murray to use all that Mike Simpson has already advanced as the starting point, and I hope Inslee and Murray will actually work with Congressman Simpson so that together they can develop legislation that implements these needed actions.”

The Lewiston Tribune

Read More

Read More

“A reversal of Montana’s recently adopted selenium standards for Lake Koocanusa and the Kootenai River would jeopardize Montana’s ability to meet downstream water quality standards in Idaho,” said ICL's Ellie Hudson-Heck.

Flathead Beacon

Read More

“I think it shows that lawmakers are trapped in the past, just like the Bonneville Power Administration is,” Justin Hayes, executive director of the Idaho Conservation League, said of the credit limit increase.

Spokesman-Review

Read More

“Most of the cobalt mined globally comes from places like the Democratic Republic of the Congo or China,” he said. “There is value to having a domestic source of cobalt if it’s done responsibly, which is why the ICL has watched this project for over a decade now to make sure that regulations and protocols are in place to protect the environment.”

Idaho Mountain Express

Read More

An annual report finds poor groundwater quality continues to be an issue for the Magic Valley. The Idaho Conservation League analyzed state and federal data and research on agriculture pollution in the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer for the third year in a row.

Public News Service

Read More

Read More

Read More

Jonathan Oppenheimer, external relations director of the Idaho Conservation League, said the surrounding community wanted to come up with a better solution than development.

Public News Service

Read More

For the second year in a row, groups such as the Idaho Conservation League, The National Forest Foundation and the Sawtooth Society are looking for volunteers to do a cleanup in the forest.

Boise State Public Radio

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

"Dams make it so the water is hotter which is really important on a year like this," said Rachel Brinkley of the Idaho Conservation League who we ran into during a flotilla to raise awareness for Simpson's plan. "There is more exposure to predators, it means that less juvenile salmon are going to the ocean and less adults are coming back.

KIVI

Read More

A group called United Payette has formed with the goal of preserving the McCall-area state lands where the Land Board manages about 285 square miles (740 square kilometers) around McCall, with 115 square miles (300 square kilometers) primarily as timberlands.

AP

Read More

Jonathan Oppenheimer of the Idaho Conservation League, which has opposed the Trident proposal, told the Statesman by phone that he wasn’t surprised the proposal fell through, but that it doesn’t eliminate the possibility of private investors.

Idaho Statesman

Read More

The Idaho Conservation League organized a "Rally for the River" event on the Boise River on Aug 7. People floated the river with signs encouraging the removal of the lower four dams on the Snake River that disrupt salmon habitat.

Idaho Statesman

Read More

Listen to Justin Hayes, executive director of the Idaho Conservation League, talk about caring for Idaho’s public lands.

East Idaho's Public Radio Station

Read More

Read More

Idahoans use more water in and around our homes than people in any other state. I share that statistic a lot, and people typically respond with something like, “Well, of course we do. Agriculture is huge in Idaho.” But I’m not talking about agriculture. I’m talking about you, me and everyone else who lives here.

Idaho Statesman

Read More

“This has now been going on for about 18 months or so at this point and ICL and local community members continue to have concerns," said Josh Johnson with the Idaho Conservation League.

Boise State Public Radio

Read More

Justin Hayes of the Idaho Conservation League ... said in a recent op-ed that Cantwell is doing the region a “disservice” by advancing the provision. “This is just pumping money to prop up the failed status quo without consulting stakeholders or Tribes,” he wrote.

E&E News

Read More

As wildfires in the West burn during this hot summer, the Idaho Conservation League has created a worksheet to help protect you and your loved ones from wildfire smoke and poor air quality days. This worksheet helps folks understand their health risks and make a plan.

Idaho Press

Read More

Read More

"Restoring salmon to true abundance, finally honoring the all too often broken Treaties and commitments to Tribes, supporting orcas, investing in the massive amount of salmon-friendly renewable energy necessary to tackle climate change, investing in transportation, agriculture, and the economic health of our communities are all intertwined."

Spokesman Review

Read More

Ben Otto, an energy associate with the Idaho Conservation League, talks about the plans for the Lava Ridge Wind Proposal during an EcoFlight tour of the project area. (Photo: Pat Sutphin, Twin Falls Times-News)

Twin Falls Times-News

Read More

(Josh Johnson) said far too many questions were unanswered in the first draft EIS, and he was glad to see the supplemental work ordered by the U.S. Forest Service. "We keep seeing the goalposts being moved,” he said, referencing the multiple modifications to Perpetua’s operational plans.

Boise State Public Radio

Read More

On Monday, (EcoFlight's) Gordon, members of the Idaho Conservation League and other passengers flew over the Stibnite Mine area. On Tuesday he piloted flights over endowment land in McCall, near Payette Lake. Wednesday they were in Twin Falls, looking at the landscape around a proposed wind farm.

KIVI

Read More

Ben Otto, an energy associate with the Idaho Conservation League, who consults energy utilities on sustainable practices, said Boise’s road map is among the most ambitious climate plans he’s seen.

Boise Dev

Read More

Morels are “one of the most prized delicacies that can be commonly found throughout Idaho,” said Jonathan Oppenheimer, a wildfire management expert at the Idaho Conservation League and an amateur forager, by phone.

Idaho Statesman

Read More

Alycia Bean, climate campaign coordinator for the Idaho Conservation League, said the recent conditions highlight the health aspects of the changing climate. "How are these people going to adapt to this long-term, you know, more than one or two days, sustained heat, given the resources and the infrastructure that they have?" Bean asked. "We are not prepared to handle something like that."

Public News Service

Read More

United Payette also includes state and national groups, including the Idaho Wildlife Federation, Idaho Conservation League, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and the Trust for Public Land.

Idaho Statesman

Read More

Read More

Read More

“It essentially comes down to the manure,” said Josh Johnson, an Idaho Conservation League conservation associate. “Whenever you put a large number of cows in a concentrated area, they are going to produce a lot of manure.”

Idaho Press

Read More

Read More

Marie Kellner, conservation program manager with the Idaho Conservation League, believes securing the water will help salmon access their spawning grounds, significantly benefiting the species. “Idaho salmon need all the help they can get and ICL is really pleased to see the water board stepping in to get that help,” Kellner said.

Post Register

Read More

The Idaho Conservation League reported that before the dams, about 1.5 million spring-summer chinook salmon returned each year to the Snake River. By 2017, only about 5,800 wild spring-summer chinook completed that journey.

The Guardian

Read More

Read More

Stakeholder collaboration works when interests get what they need, not necessarily what they want, and fish aren’t getting what they need, said Idaho Conservation League Executive Director Justin Hayes.

Capital Press

Read More

Projects that are agreed on through collaboration have the best chance of moving forward, said Brad Smith of the Idaho Conservation League.

Bonner County Daily Bee

Read More

“Both sides disagree on a lot,” said Josh Johnson, who participates in the Lemhi Forest Restoration Group as a staffer for the Idaho Conservation League, an environmental nonprofit. “Where we agree is that the Forest Service hasn’t done the best job at public involvement.”

High Country News

Read More

Marie Kellner, conservation program manager with the Idaho Conservation League, believes securing the water will help salmon access their spawning grounds, significantly benefiting the species. “Idaho salmon need all the help they can get and ICL is really pleased to see the water board stepping in to get that help.”

Post Register

Read More

"A lot of people want to have their place out in the woods away from it all where they can kind of escape and have a little haven, and that's great, but there's also responsibility that we all have living out there," Jonathan Oppenheimer with the Idaho Conservation League said.

KTVB

Read More

Read More

Read More

According to John Robison, public lands director for the Idaho Conservation League, much of Idaho and the country’s open spaces are “a mosaic of public and private properties, some of which have special easements for public access.”

Idaho Press

Read More

Jonathan Oppenheimer of the Idaho Conservation League testified that the Legislature was treading on territory that’s the responsibility of the Idaho Fish and Game Commission to set wildlife policy.

Associated Press

Read More

A big welcome to new hires Aly Bean and Becca Rodack

Idaho Business Review

Read More

(Justin) Hayes said, “This is a very important issue that people in the region say they want to resolve, and here is the opportunity to resolve it, so let’s all step forward together."

Spokesman-Review

Read More

“By preventing this pollution from continuously entering the river, we can hopefully prevent those more drastic effects from happening in Idaho,” said Ellie Hudson-Heck, a conservation assistant with Idaho Conservation League. “But in order to do that, we have to act now.”

Sandpoint Reader

Read More

“All of the funds, which will be held in a dedicated account by Jervois, will be put towards on-the-ground projects,” the Idaho Conservation League said. “The projects may involve activities such as removing barriers to fish passage, improving spawning habitat for salmon and steelhead, and restoring surrounding streamside habitat.”

Post Register

Read More

A $60-million penalty to Teck Coal underscores the urgent need for B.C. to adopt stricter coal-mining regulations in line with American states downstream...

The Globe and Mail (Toronto)

Read More

Josh Johnson from the Idaho Conservation League said the organization is concerned about recent proposed projects in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area.

Boise State Public Radio

Read More

“This new program will provide real, tangible, benefits to the basin’s water quality, habitat, fish and wildlife,” Idaho Conservation League Executive Director Justin Hayes said. He said the conservation league will “maintain an active relationship” with Jervois to use the funds to restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat.

The Challis Messenger

Read More

Jonathan Oppenheimer, external relations director for the Idaho Conservation League, said during the Q&A that a conservation easement is a lucrative option for the Department of Lands, allowing it to retain ownership of the parcels while benefiting from a number of revenue streams.

Idaho Statesman

Read More

Jervois’ Idaho Cobalt Operations and the Idaho Conservation League have joined forces to create the Upper Salmon Conservation Action Program. Jervois plans to contribute $150,000 into the program each year its cobalt mine is in operation.

Post Register

Read More

There’s $1.6 billion in the plan for “enhanced nutrient management funding.” That money would, to a large extent, go toward research that would help the Magic Valley dairy industry better its manure management practices in an effort to improve water quality and prevent excess nutrients from getting into the Snake River. There’s also $700 million for “Snake River Basin Watershed Partnerships.” That money’s designated for water quality improvement too.

Twin Falls Times-News

Read More

Read More

Following the meeting, the Idaho Conservation League issued a statement asking that the process strive to consider and discuss Simpson’s proposal even as members of the collaborative settle in for a longer-term look at salmon recovery.

The Lewiston Tribune

Read More

Read More

“If we change how we use water, there is enough water to meet that population 50 years out,” said Marie Callaway Kellner, conservation program director at the Idaho Conservation League.

Idaho News 2

Read More

Idaho Conservation League Public Lands Director John Robison said the state and BLM, following the multi-stakeholder initiative that keyed wilderness designation, “recognized the existing checkerboard situation wasn’t serving the agencies’ interests as well as it could.”

Capital Press

Read More

Justin Hayes, executive director of the Idaho Conservation League, said the plan includes the creation of voluntary watershed partnerships to bring together agriculture interests, communities and conservationists.

Public News Service

Read More

"It's very comprehensive. It's clear that Congressman Simpson has put a lot of time talking to parties across the region, all of the interests he could bring together," said Justin Hayes with the Idaho Conservation League.

KPVI 6

Read More

ICL’s Josh Johnson has an educational background in geology. He said the baseline water quality data for Dog Bone Ridge is still insufficient. To beef up the data for the new assessment, five new water monitoring sites were added, but only this past summer. Johnson said collecting a few samples over a single summer fails to account for the dramatic seasonal and annual variability in stream flow levels.

Billings Gazette

Read More

In a statement released in support of Simpson’s proposal, ICL believes the plan will save Idaho’s salmon and build a prosperous future for the region. ICL executive director Justin Hayes stated, “the proposal is bold, comprehensive and urgently needed for Idahoans and the people of the Northwest.”

Bonners Ferry Herald

Read More

Justin Hayes, the director of the Idaho Conservation League, supports Simpon’s plan. “This is the start of the Northwest finding a way to work together to restore salmon and provide for other important economies and communities,” he said.

Boise State Public Radio

Read More

Justin Hayes, ICL’s executive director, said, “The proposal is bold, comprehensive, and urgently needed for Idahoans and the people of the Northwest. We look forward to working with Rep. Simpson and all stakeholders to find solutions together to address the many elements of the proposal, including river restoration, salmon and steelhead recovery, affordable and clean energy, efficient transportation links and investments in Idaho’s agriculture, outdoor recreation and tourism industries.”

Local News 8 KIDK 3

Read More

"What he's proposing is so much bigger than dams. It's about the region," said Justin Hayes of the Idaho Conservation League. "It's about working together to break out of the status quo, which has kept the region in conflict."

E&E News

Read More

Read More

“We’re hopeful that this proposal brings people together to work to benefit communities in Idaho and the Northwest, providing jobs and needed investment that will lead to cleaner water, clean energy, abundant salmon and steelhead, prosperous farming, river, and waterfront communities and affordable energy for consumers,” said ICL executive director Justin Hayes.

KXLY

Read More

“Folks who’ve traditionally been on the other side of the table on this, I’ve heard a lot of thoughtful things from them,” Idaho Conservation League director Justin Hayes said in a phone interview Sunday. “(Things like) ‘Wow, this is comprehensive.’ This addresses concerns that they have, and they’re on the table for discussion.”

Idaho Statesman

Read More

Read More

Josh Johnson, Central Idaho conservation associate for the Idaho Conservation League, said in a Wednesday statement that without additional actions, consequences could include “impounded mine water” building up and “releasing contaminants through springs in the surrounding area, or even worse, in a catastrophic blowout.”

Idaho Mountain Express

Read More

Further cleanup costs associated with the mine—which continues to release arsenic, zinc and other heavy metals into groundwater—would be fronted by taxpayers, according to Josh Johnson, Central Idaho conservation associate for the Idaho Conservation League.

Idaho Mountain Express

Read More

ICL's External Relations Director Jonathan Oppenheimer testifies on new pesticide rules at the Idaho legislature.

Read More

Brad Smith, the North Idaho director of the Idaho Conservation League, applauded Biden’s steps to reduce carbon emissions, but was also quick to emphasize that lasting conservation work requires cooperation.

Spokesman-Review

Read More

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game will be revisiting wolf hunting and trapping regulations this year and “may consider expanding wolf trapping areas and seasons in the Wood River Valley,” according to a Saturday statement from the Idaho Conservation League.

Idaho Mountain Express

Read More

Jonathan Oppenheimer, external relations director for the Idaho Conservation League, testified during the committee meeting. He said there has not been anyone from the FAA to testify at any of the stakeholder or legislative meetings. The Idaho Press attended all of the stakeholder meetings about the rule and there has never been any aviation administration members present.

Idaho Press

Read More

“We are seeing already through some of Biden’s appointees and statements there is going to be a major push to address climate change and of course we are very supportive of that,” said Justin Hayes, executive director of the Idaho Conservation League at Boise.

The Lewiston Tribune

Read More

Josh Johnson, ICL’s conservation associate, said, “Despite losing in court once already, Excellon Resources is back again for another chance to profit off our public lands while jeopardizing a key wildlife corridor in the Northern Rockies. If this project goes forward, it’s not just public lands, fish, and wildlife that stand to lose -- hunters, anglers, and recreationists will directly feel the brunt of these negative impacts.”

Local News 8 KIDK 3

Read More

Read More

Marie Callaway Kellner, conservation program director with the Idaho Conservation League, believes the precedent from the FMC case will have ramifications throughout the West. “We congratulate the Tribes on this. It’s a great win for them and it probably would translate across Indian country about how government and private industry interact with Tribes,” she said.

Idaho State Journal

Read More

“I think a significant thing that the workgroup talked about and learned and affirmed is that what Idahoans want is to recover real abundance,” said Justin Hayes, executive director of the Idaho Conservation League.

Moscow-Pullman Daily News

Read More

Read More

Read More

“We also thank the many advocates in Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia who appealed to Montana environmental officials for these new limits,” said Brad Smith, ICL’s North Idaho director.

Missoula Current

Read More

Read More

“While we’re disappointed that the land board didn’t take up this contested case … there is a required process moving forward, and we are hopeful that working with AT&T and FirstNet and other stakeholders that we can find suitable alternatives that can satisfy the Department of Lands, satisfy AT&T, satisfy local needs and concerns and result ultimately in revenue being paid to the Department of Lands endowment,” Oppenheimer said.

Idaho Statesman

Read More

Read More

“President-elect Biden has stated his support for increasing fuel efficiency and helping consumers shift to electric vehicles,” Ki said. “This shift will both improve Treasure Valley air quality and help fight climate change.

Idaho Statesman

Read More

“I and countless other Idahoans were heartbroken when Idaho's last remaining mountain caribou herd went extinct,” said Brad Smith of the Idaho Conservation League. “The Fish and Wildlife Service must act soon to ensure that Idaho's wolverines do not share the same fate.”

Local News 8 KIDK 3

Read More

Read More

“It’s one thing to have some discussions with someone,” Oppenheimer said. “It seems to be another when there are eight to 10 agencies out on a field trip. When these discussions have been occurring since January and a land use permit was issued in August … there’s been a failure to include the public.”

Idaho Statesman

Read More

"The transmission line is just a line. It's just like a road," (ICL's Ben Otto) said. "What matters is what travels over that line. So until we see real commitments that this line will be dedicated to clean energy, we're hesitant to take a position."

E&E News

Read More

“There are ways that could still satisfy the Idaho Department of Lands requirement to maximize revenue and to have a lease for communications facilities, but that would also protect the integrity of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area," said Jonathan Oppenheimer, External Affairs Director for the Idaho Conservation League.

Boise State Public Radio

Read More

Jonathan Oppenheimer with the Idaho Conservation League urged the board to take a slow and steady pace.

BoiseDev.com

Read More

“These are public lands, and people should have the ability to provide meaningful comment and understand the environmental impacts and ultimately shape the (agency’s) decisions,” (Brad Smith) said. “If we continue to move toward expedited timber sales and limited public involvement and environmental review, we are cutting the public out of the process.”

Lewiston Tribune

Read More

“It could hardly be in a worse place,” Stanley Mayor Stephen Botti told the Land Board.

Idaho Press

Read More

“The Clean Water Act requires states to meet downstream water quality standards. Because Idaho is on the downstream end of the Kootenai River, the state of Montana must meet Idaho water quality standards at the state line,” Brad Smith said.

Missoula Current

Read More

Mary Lou Reed, 90, co-founded the Kootenai Environmental Alliance in 1972 and Idaho Conservation League in 1973 along with her late husband, Scott.

Spokesman-Review

Read More

The Idaho Conservation League believes the potential cost of mining could ruin a pristine area used by boaters, anglers and people who rely on the water to make a living.

KIVI/Idaho Statesman

Read More

The current plan is a detriment to the recreation area because the tower would dominate the skyline and interrupt the view, Botti said. The scenery is the predominant draw of the area, Botti said, and any impact on it needs to be more carefully considered.

Challis Messenger/Idaho Falls Post Register

Read More

Generations of Idahoans must hope that ICL’s Hail Mary can save the heart of Idaho from this heedless mutilation.

Idaho Mountain Express

Read More

“These volunteers logged a total of 909 hours of work, rehabilitated 150 campgrounds, disassembled 320 overbuilt fire rings and disposed of 123 instances of human waste."

Idaho Statesman

Read More

“Gov. Little spoke recently about the importance of collaboration on land issues, and we encourage members of the Land Board to heed his advice. The broad concerns from stakeholders, the county, the city and others at least deserve a response.”

Idaho Mountain Express

Read More

While Blue Heart Springs is a natural gem in the Snake River landscape, our journey there and back was an opportunity to reflect on the severe water quality issues facing the Snake River and why we must work together to solve them.

Idaho Press

Read More

“Every time a utility, not just Idaho Power, sharpens its pencil, coal closes faster,” said Ben Otto, an energy attorney for the Idaho Conservation League.

Idaho Statesman

Read More

Consumers in Idaho are concerned about power plant costs and climate change, said Ben Otto of the Idaho Conservation League. “It gets very unclear about who pays the costs once Washington leaves. It’s a real chance that Idahoans will get stuck with all these extra costs,” Otto said.

Billings Gazette

Read More

Read More

“What we have done through the Boise and Payette forest coalitions, and others, is to get people together with different perspectives to find zones of agreement and work out suggestions for the Forest Service to address concerns,” (ICL's John Robison) said. Coalitions also help the Forest Service “design projects that advance everyone’s interests. So public involvement is important.”

Capital Press

Read More

“This administration’s disregard for the law is deeply disturbing,” said John Robison of the Idaho Conservation League. “It’s been really alarming for the future of our public lands.”

AP Idaho

Read More

“It’s a continued pattern of wanting to stick their heads in the sand about climate change and not do anything about the impacts that greenhouse gas emissions will have on species,” said Brad Smith, the north Idaho director of the Idaho Conservation League.

The Guardian

Read More

Justin Hayes, executive director of the Idaho Conservation League, said the agreement is a recognition that recovery efforts need a new direction that goes above and beyond what federal agencies are able to do on their own.

Lewiston Tribune

Read More

“We are very concerned because this latest version of the rule lessens the acknowledgment that there is a connection between ground and surface water because it takes away some of the protections for what can be discharged into groundwater,” (ICL's Marie) Kellner said. “It’s our drinking water, it’s where we recreate, it’s aquatic habitat.”

Idaho Press

Read More

To help clean up the Sawtooth NRA, the National Forest Foundation, Sawtooth Society, Sawtooth Interpretive and Historical Association and Idaho Conservation League are putting out a call for volunteers. Anyone who wants to help will get to pick how and where they pitch in.

Twin Falls Times News/AP

Read More

The work of volunteers like Farbe adds up. Last year, 56 Idaho Conservation League wilderness stewards interacted with 3,216 trail users, destroyed 109 illegal campfire rings, packed out 100 pounds of litter, and extinguished three abandoned campfires.

Mountain West News Bureau

Read More

The Idaho Conservation League, which has been engaged in conversations surrounding pesticide application, will seek to better understand the FAA oversight process “to ensure that public health is protected for communities, water quality supplies and farmworkers alike,” said Jonathan Oppenheimer, the non-profit’s government relationships director.

Boise State Public Radio

Read More

There is more than enough timber in Idaho’s national forests to meet the demands of the mass timber market, said Brad Smith, North Idaho director of the Idaho Conservation League.

The New York Times

Read More

Spearheaded by the National Forest Foundation, Idaho Conservation League, Sawtooth Society and Sawtooth Interpretive and Historical Association, the project goal is to restore the central Idaho landscape to its pre-pandemic state.

Idaho Mountain Express

Read More

The cities of Sandpoint and Priest River, in addition to the Kootenai-Ponderay Sewer District, were flagged for water quality violations, according to an annual report produced by the Idaho Conservation League.

Bonner County Daily Bee

Read More

“It’s always important to recognize [wastewater treatment plant] facilities with few-to-no violations,” (Walkins) said.

Coeur d'Alene Press

Read More

The Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer is a critical drinking water source for southern and eastern Idaho. More than 300,000 Idahoans rely on the natural underground storage to provide clean, safe water every day. But due to a combination of farming and agricultural practices in the Magic Valley, the water source is in danger of contamination.

Boise State Public Radio/Idaho Matters

Read More

Read More

A new group called the Wood River Valley Wildlife Smart Communities Coalition is working toward some solutions. The coalition is made up of representatives from Fish and Game, the Idaho Conservation League, the national forest, and local cities including Ketchum, Hailey, and Sun Valley.

KIVI/KSAW

Read More

“A bad accord is one that binds the hands of the state and limits its sovereignty,” (Justin) Hayes said.

Lewiston Tribune

Read More

Read More

Idaho Conservation League: This organization describes itself as "Idaho's leading voice for conservation," tackling water and air quality issues as well as wildlife conservation.

Inlander

Read More

“At the end of the day, (Midas Gold's Stibnite Project) is really an old school, open pit cyanide vat leach mining project in an extremely sensitive location.”

Lewiston Tribune

Read More

Read More

While the higher numbers of returning sockeye in 2020 was encouraging news, the fish still face considerable obstacles to their continued survival.

Idaho Press/AP

Read More

“As long as there are 425,000 dairy cows here there’s going to be 50 million pounds of dairy waste a day and we’re going to have to figure out something to do with that,” Johnson said. “It’s not all on the dairy industry, but at least some of it is.”

Twin Falls Times-News

Read More

Read More

Read More

Idaho’s national forests have a $528 million maintenance backlog, according to the Idaho Conservation League. The Nez Perce-Clearwater and Idaho Panhandle forests in North Idaho lead the nation in backlogs.

Idaho Falls Post Register

Read More

("Avista) is accounting for the social cost of carbon - or the cost of climate change - for its Washington customers, but not its Idaho customers."
"We think Avista needs to be looking a little harder and with more creativity and more urgency to reduce their carbon emissions quicker."

Public News Service

Read More

Read More

Agency admits adopted plan is not the best option for salmon

KIVI TV

Read More

The struggle over pesticide regulation has simmered for years, and it has recently begun to boil over. Pesticide-related accidents can compromise the health and safety of agricultural workers, but one Idaho group has lobbied the State of Idaho to loosen the rules surrounding them and increase reliance on federal enforcement—much to the chagrin of advocacy groups.

Boise Weekly

Read More

Local News 8 on ICL's latest groundwater study authored by staffer Josh Johnson.

Local News 8

Read More

Read More

ICL's Betsy Mizell in The Washington Post talking about Central Idaho's Dark Sky Reserve.

The Washington Post

Read More

Read More

It’s one of the most iconic views in Idaho: the scenic vista of the Sawtooth Mountains from Stanley, part of a national recreation area and a dark-sky reserve. But the Idaho Department of Lands is preparing to issue a lease for a giant, 195-foot-tall cell tower on top of a 300-foot ridge smack in the middle of that view, over the objections of the local county commissioners, the mayor of Stanley, the Sawtooth Society, the local search and rescue operation, and hundreds of local residents, business owners and visitors.

The Spokesman-Review

Read More

ICL's Jonathan Oppenheimer on the passage of the Great American Outdoor Act.

The Spokesman-Review

Read More

Read More

Fishery experts acknowledge recent good water years have played a significant role in the trout rebound. But they also give credit to a collaboration of mining companies and conservation groups that has worked closely with Caribou County ranchers, called the Upper Blackfoot Confluence.

Idaho State Journal

Read More

Justin Hayes: "By recognizing our diverse interests and working together, we can bring back Idaho’s fish and support communities — ensuring a brighter future for all the people of Idaho and the region. I hope you’ll join us."

Idaho Falls Post Register (also ran in the Idaho Mountain Express, Idaho County Free Press, Sandpoint Reader, and Idaho Press)

Read More

Randy Fox said he would like to see the Forest Service analyze more thoroughly how mining activities could affect the fish. For instance, he said use of groundwater for drilling could potentially lower the water table, and reduce stream flows.

Twin Falls Times News

Read More

"The park service recently estimated that it would create 100,000 jobs in the park service in direct and associated appointments," Rep. Mike Simpson said.

Idaho Press

Read More

"My group is very committed to saving Idaho Salmon," said Hayes. "We believe that will require removing dams. But we are equally committed that as salmon recovery goes forward, communities in Idaho Washington and Oregon are kept whole and made better."

KIVI/Idaho News 6

Read More

Idahoans shouldn’t let this visual blight get built without a bigger fight. So, pick up the phone or email land board members. Insist that they stop AT&T from ruining the priceless heart of Idaho.

Idaho Mountain Express Editorial

Read More

Opposition to the proposed tower even came from Sawtooth Search and Rescue, a volunteer unit that works with the Custer County Sheriff’s Office.

Idaho Mountain Express

Read More

He was as at home in a meeting of ranchers, miners or loggers as he was at the annual Wild Idaho conference of the Idaho Conservation League at Redfish Lake. He was most comfortable in his role as moderator in forums where westerners of both traditional cultures and environmentalists gathered together.

Idaho Statesman

Read More

The new ruling Monday shuts down drilling at least until the Forest Service completes its groundwater analysis at Dog Bone Ridge and issues new approval documents. That requires a public process with comment periods.

AP Idaho

Read More

“Instead of this being a discretionary action, we believe that such a design review would be a reasonable requirement coming from the state and federal agencies to the mine owner given the changed circumstance of a recent earthquake of that magnitude roughly 30 miles from the mine site,” the ICL stated in a letter dated April 27.

Idaho Mountain Express

Read More

Clean up Lake Coeur d’Alene. That’s the message an Idaho conservation group and its supporters are sending to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The Spokesman-Review

Read More

“The Reeds’ work and legacy runs deep at the Idaho Conservation League,” said Justin Hayes, executive director of ICL. “We’ve always viewed Scott and Mary Lou as the parents of the entire ICL family.”

Coeur d'Alene Press

Read More

“We support forest restoration activities that are wisely implemented, and we are working through the Boise Forest Coalition to help ensure all activities associated with the project are designed in such a way to help meet those goals,” (Randy Fox) said.

Capital Press

Read More

“Even if the likelihood of a catastrophic failure may be relatively low, the human and environmental costs of a collapse would be extremely high,” the ICL stated in a letter dated April 8.

Idaho Mountain Express

Read More

As more and more people are getting outside amid the COVID-19 outbreak, it’s important to remember to stay local, keep your distance from others, avoid unnecessary risks, and be respectful to Idaho’s public lands and each other.

Idaho Press

Read More

“A really strong argument can be made actually, that if we don’t save salmon, then electricity rates will really go up. So figuring out how to save salmon and replace the electricity that’s generated by these dams in an economical and efficient way, that’s the sweet spot,” said ICL executive director Justin Hayes.

Local News 8

Read More

“We are pleased the governor vetoed the bill,” said Jonathan Oppenheimer, external relations director with the Idaho Conservation League.

Idaho Statesman

Read More

...Conservationists like the Idaho Conservation League’s Brad Smith believe that snowmobilers need to be more conscious of where they ride when they enter areas where sensitive species, like wolverines, are known to roam.

High Country News

Read More

“Taking polluted surface water out of the Snake River and funneling that down into the aquifer is a concern and something that deserves some closer scrutiny from the state,” said Jonathan Oppenheimer, Idaho Conservation League’s director for its Snake River campaign.

Idaho Falls Post Register

Read More

Although the Bog Creek Road is relatively short, it bisects an important chunk of grizzly habitat – the Blue-Grass Unit. About 25% of all grizzly sightings in the Selkirks have occurred in this unit, Smith said.

Spokesman-Review

Read More

The council is making the request at the urging of the Idaho Conservation League because it would provide the public an avenue for involvement in the planning process. Moreover, a public hearing allows Avista to take the pulse of its customer base.

Bonner County Daily Bee

Read More

ICL and other Idahoans are watching Avista's plans for its coal-fired power plant at Colstrip in Montana very closely. “For Montana to demand that Idaho customers stay on and pay more for power, that’s not fair,” (ICL's Matt) Nykiel said.

Billings Gazette

Read More

“The goal of this plan is to get fish off the endangered species list, that’s actually a pretty low bar,” said Justin Hayes, executive director of the Idaho Conservation League. “In Idaho, that means that this plan imagines if it were to succeed, success would look like 20,000 wild steelhead back to Idaho each year. Nobody in Idaho actually thinks that’s the right goal.”

Boise Weekly

Read More

“I’m disappointed but not surprised,” said Justin Hayes, executive director of the Idaho Conservation League at Boise. “It’s the sixth in a string of failed federal plans. It doesn’t waver from the status quo. It tweaks it, and quite frankly we know what status quo has been getting us — fish in decline. We’ve spent $17 billion and it’s not working. We need bold action and this plan doesn’t do that.”

Lewiston Tribune

Read More

Austin Walkins of the Idaho Conservation League also spoke in support of COMPASS’ bill, SB 1312. He said air pollution is increasing faster than growth in the Treasure Valley, largely because of drivers stalled in heavy traffic, and the region is “on the cusp” of violating national standards for ozone pollution.

Idaho Press

Read More

"The proposal from the federal government really falls short," said Justin Hayes of the Idaho Conservation League. "It looks at a variety of options but it chooses one that is essentially tweaking the status quo."

KIVI TV 6

Read More

I encourage everyone to take a hunters education course, regardless of your background or experience. Taking such a course through IDFG is a great way to get a grounding on hunting fundamentals, animal identification and outdoors skills. If nothing else, it’s valuable to know how to handle and be safe around firearms.

Idaho Press

Read More

Jonathan Oppenheimer of the Idaho Conservation League summarized the analysis from the AG’s office, which raised serious concerns about how the bill would change the ability to enforce Environmental Protection Agency regulations.

Idaho Statesman

Read More

There’s a great reason The Ridge to Rivers website describes the Boise Foothills as “a postcard backdrop that inspires and soothes the soul.”

Idaho Press

Read More

(Hayes) said it will take many actions and ideas, including options (Gov.) Little’s working group is examining, to make a difference.

Idaho Statesman

Read More

“ICL made a good faith effort to resolve our concerns during the administrative process, but the Forest Service and the Border Patrol made it clear that they were not willing to budge. That leaves us with no other option than to put the issue in front of a judge.”

Sandpoint Reader

Read More

"We’re working with the Idaho Conservation League this year on a couple of events,...Our Rivers, Our Fish, Our Lives, the salmon narrative is pretty heavy. Back to back with that, we have one they’re calling The River Runners: Tales of the Big Water and Howling at the Moon,..."

Boise Weekly

Read More

Otto said Idaho Power is fighting to make solar panels less attractive in order to maintain its energy monopoly.

Twin Falls Times-News/MagicValley.com

Read More

“This project will reduce the amount of habitat available in the most important grizzly bear management unit in the Selkirk Recovery Zone,” said Brad Smith the North Idaho director for the Idaho Conservation League.

Spokesman-Review

Read More

Although enhanced communications for first responders is an important function, the specific design and location of this tower would degrade treasured views and the core values of the SNRA (Sawtooth National Recreation Area).

Idaho Mountain Express

Read More

After a full day of skiing and marveling at the wolverine, we sipped the last of the bourbon and watched the alpenglow while soaking in the last of the exceptional Sun Valley sunshine.

Idaho Press

Read More

The Clean Water Act was created to protect people from harm. This new rule benefits polluters at the expense of communities and public health.

Post Register/Farm and Ranch

Read More

“As we lost the last mountain caribous in North Idaho and in the Lower 48 States – it was really heartbreaking. I’d hate to see us also lose wolverines,” Smith said. “As we lose more and more species, we lose more and more cogs in our ecosystem. It can have a cascading effect.”

NW News Network

Read More

"We can not be tweaking what we are already trying, we are really going to have to double down as a state, as a region, and come up with plans that are bigger in scale than anything that has ever been done before."

KIVI TV

Read More

Three conservation organizations, including the Idaho Conservation League, are asking the (Idaho PUC) to extend the locked-in rates to anyone who signs on with home solar power between now and whenever new rates for future customers are set.

Idaho Mountain Express

Read More

Right before Christmas, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission rejected a proposed settlement agreement that would have changed how folks with solar panels are paid for the excess power generated at their homes. We talk with Idaho Power CEO Darrel Anderson and Ben Otto of the Idaho Conservation League about who wins under the current policy, and what it means for the future of solar power in Idaho.

Boise State Public Radio/Idaho Matters

Read More

(ICL's Austin) Walkins says folks can improve air quality during inversions by limiting what they burn in wood stoves and by driving less. He suggests taking public transit if it's an option.

Public News Service

Read More

Ben Otto, an energy associate with the conservation league, said in the statement: “We look forward to working publicly with all stakeholders to finish the job of calculating all the benefits additional solar can bring to Idaho.”

Idaho Press

Read More

The Idaho Conservation League and the Greater Yellowstone Coalition filed the lawsuit in November 2018 contending the exploratory drilling could pollute groundwater and surface water.

AP

Read More

If the settlement is approved, Matt Dunay, a rooftop installer, says it will destroy his industry, which has created more than 500 jobs in Idaho in the last decade.

Idaho Statesman

Read More

"Now, with Idaho Power planning to cut that rate in half some folks may lose out on thousands of dollars on their investments . . . A lot of people are very concerned."

KTVB

Read More

"For a long time, Avista and other utilities have seen Colstrip to be operating into the 2040s. What's significant is although Avista is not saying retirement of the plant is at 2025, they're saying we will have paid it off by 2025."

Inlander

Read More

ICL Conservation Associate Josh Johnson said the organization supports the purpose of the project and wants to ensure a wide range of community input.

Idaho Mountain Express

Read More

Salmon and steelhead swim about 900 miles up the Columbia, Snake and Salmon rivers to arrive in the Sawtooth Valley. “Any salmon that makes it up that far doesn’t need to get sucked into an (irrigation) ditch or run into a dry creek,” said Marie Callaway Kellner of the Idaho Conservation League.

AP Idaho

Read More

"I'm very hopeful that when we come together and talk about what we hope to accomplish, our concerns, the needs of the communities that we represent, and the needs of the fish, I think we're going to come up with some good suggestions and recommendations for the governor."

KIVI TV Channel 6

Read More

Kaleb Churchwell, a OneStone student who made paintings for the show, focused on the idea that mining is "taking the heart out of the mountain," and enjoyed learning about the natural, geological and community impacts of a mine.

Boise Weekly

Read More

“Idahoans who chose to invest early in their energy freedom should not have the rules changed after the deal is done. Changing the math now is unfair and penalizes those who are leading Idaho into a clean energy future.”

Idaho Mountain Express

Read More

“As our climate changes and Idaho’s traditional patterns of rain, snow and run off change, Idaho needs access to more stream data, not less,” said Justin Hayes, the league’s executive director.

Idaho Statesman

Read More

Vote Solar and Idaho Conservation League submitted comments asking the PUC to protect the current net metering rate for existing customers for at least 20 years

Public News Service

Read More

“One case that they (ICL) often don’t make directly themselves—and what I think is kind of my job as artist in residence—is to make the case for conserving land from an aesthetic point of view. It’s worth protecting the natural world simply because it’s beautiful."

Idaho Mountain Express

Read More

Idaho Conservation League Executive Director Justin Hayes is a member of the workgroup. He said that he feels good about the collaborative process, but emphasized the situation is dire. “(These species) are going extinct, and, at this rate, will be gone in our generation,” Hayes said.

Twin Falls Times News

Read More

To receive a notification from the Idaho Conservation League on when the public comment period opens, text 52886 with the words IDAHO LAND.

Idaho Mountain Express

Read More

“How can we give the counties the financial resources and certainty they need to keep their schools and roads open, and also look at the public land and try to protect the special places and special waterways?” Smith said.

Lewiston Tribune

Read More

"You put a solar system on your house, and if you produce an extra kilowatt hour, Idaho Power pays you a credit for the same price as what you would pay to buy from them. We think that was fair," Otto said.

Local News 8

Read More

The same kind of collaborative process is going to be necessary to save Idaho’s wild salmon and protect wheat shippers, farmers and Snake River communities, Crapo said. . . Especially if breaching dams is part of that discussion.

Idaho Statesman

Read More

Hydropower is no longer the Northwest's cheapest energy, and if BPA wants to get its books in order, critics say, it should start by removing expensive and possibly money-losing assets like the four Lower Snake River dams from its books.

E&E News

Read More

Five-year review notes water discharge is still a problem

Idaho Mountain Express

Read More

Idaho Matters talks to a solar advocate about why these changes could set back Idaho homeowners who have already installed the panels.

Boise State Public Radio/Idaho Matters

Read More

Agreement lowers rates while supporting energy conservation

Sandpoint Reader

Read More

"We believe that the settlement agreement ICL reached with DEQ and IDL last October has put the state on the right path to remediating the Triumph mine site."

Boise State Public Radio

Read More

The (North Idaho) conservation lecture and dinner is named in honor of the late Scott Reed, who, along with his wife Mary Lou and others, co-founded ICL in 1973 to serve as a conservation voice at the Idaho Legislature.

Bonner County Daily Bee

Read More

The Idaho Conservation League, which was involved in the rate case negotiations, voiced support for the settlement.

Spokesman-Review

Read More

“We hiked it all in and used a hand drill to drill holes in the sign in the spirit of putting up new wilderness signs using non-mechanized equipment.”

Idaho Falls Post Register

Read More

John Robison, ICL's public lands director, said, "This mining project threatens not only our public lands and wildlife, but could also contaminate the water Idahoans drink and use for farming and ranching."

Local News 8/ KIFI-TV Idaho Falls

Read More

“Avista has a clear choice in this rate case. The utility can either benefit its customers or ignore them to benefit its shareholders,” says Matt Nykiel, ICL’s conservation associate in Sandpoint.

Inlander

Read More

The Idaho Conservation League in 2018 filed a citizen enforcement lawsuit contending Poe was violating the federal Clean Water Act by dredging in critical habitat of protected steelhead, salmon and bull trout.

AP

Read More

“We’re thinking about whether or not this final EA is sufficient and whether or not it complies with the law. We’re in the midst of making those decisions.”

Sandpoint Reader

Read More

Donations are tailored to specific areas with Idaho-based profits going to organizations like Mountain Humane, Idaho Humane Society, Boise Humane Society and the Idaho Conservation League.

Boise Weekly

Read More

In May 2016, Judge Michael Simon . . . ruled that there were "significant deficiencies" with the agencies' focus on habitat mitigation. . . Jim Norton of the Columbia Rediviva project and the Idaho Conservation League put it another way. The agencies, he said, are "giving the region a mani-pedi when it is having a heart attack."

E&E News/Greenwire

Read More

“The river is a major source of drinking water and recreation for southern Idaho, and it’s way past time for Atlanta Gold to step up and take responsibility,” (Hayes) said.

Idaho Statesman/Associated Press

Read More

"For the people of Sandpoint, Lake Pend Oreille really is our most important asset, so anything that could affect it, good or bad, affects our quality of life and local businesses.”

Bonner County Daily Bee

Read More

"A lot of things we've seen over the past few years have been really driven by younger and younger generations, and I think that's a really positive thing, you know,” (Austin) Walkins said.

Public News Service

Read More

The state lists the Snake as impaired by phosphorus pollution and failing water quality standards. Our groundwater report also shows two-thirds of wells sampled in the Magic Valley have high levels of nitrate — some approaching harmful concentrations.

Twin Falls Times-News

Read More

Their (BPAs) business model is fundamentally broken and their present financial condition would warrant a lower rating, but they are too big to fail.

E&E News

Read More

“From a practical matter, it doesn’t actually change anything on the ground right now in Idaho," said Marie Callaway Kellner, the Conservation Program Director for the Idaho Conservation League. She said the group is more concerned, however, about potential weakening of protections in the coming months.

Boise State Public Radio

Read More

“We are beginning a collaborative process, and I think people are still trying to feel out the boundaries of that process. I am hopeful we will keep it very broad and look at all the issues,” (Justin Hayes) said.

Lewiston Morning-Tribune

Read More

“It’s important that our members and supporters trust that we’re using our funds wisely to accomplish our mission to protect Idaho’s environment,” said Jenny Estes, ICL development director.

Idaho Press

Read More

“Lake Pend Oreille is a crown jewel of the Gem State so ICL is concerned with the potential effects this massive expansion of rail infrastructure could have on our lake, our water and our way of life."

AP

Read More

“The important thing is to create a plan that works for you and your family and stick to it when air pollution gets bad."

Idaho Press

Read More

“The most remote and wild long-distance trail in the Lower 48.”

The Big Outside

Read More

A land-use plan proposed in Ada County in 1976 would have regulated growth, urban sprawl and Foothills development. It was a controversial plan. It drew support from groups like the Idaho Conservation League.

Idaho Statesman

Read More

Professional landscape photographer Linda Lantzy has just released a comprehensive guide to some of Idaho's most beautiful and iconic landscapes.

Idaho State Journal

Read More

“These numbers should alarm everyone who values healthy rangelands, including sportsmen, ranchers, conservationists, local businesses and rural counties,” John Robison said of the declining population numbers.

Idaho Statesman

Read More

Smoky summers due to wildfires are the norm throughout Idaho and the West, and with the growing impacts from climate change, this trend will only get worse.

McCall Star-News

Read More

"Idaho's fish are in crisis right now. Poor returns are the new normal so we need to act urgently."

Salmon Recorder-Herald

Read More

He (Dave Dickinson of Challis) urged legal and other action, adding, “Idaho needs to send a message. We want Idaho salmon to return to our state.”

The Challis Messenger

Read More

Jonathan Oppenheimer and his family, like many of us at ICL, devote our time and resources to other worthy causes.

Idaho Press

Read More

“Idaho sockeye are the canary in the coal mine for all of Idaho’s salmon and steelhead runs,” said Justin Hayes, Idaho Conservation League executive director.

Idaho Statesman

Read More

Part 2 in a series exploring the issue of salmon conservation and dam removal on the Lower Snake River.

Boise Weekly

Read More

ICL puts a focus on the air we breathe.

Boise State Public Radio/Idaho Matters

Read More

"Carl wants to bridge the gap between the places we help protect and their communities," said ICL Development Director Jenny Estes.

Boise Weekly

Read More

Here’s a place where long-range thinking and interests bump up against short-term.

Idaho Press

Read More

“Look at Triumph Mine,” Little said after the Land Board meeting. “We don’t want that to happen again.”

Challis Messenger

Read More

Part 1 of a 3-part series on Lower Snake River dam removal

Boise Weekly

Read More

Report says treatment facilities in Moscow, Viola, Juliaetta had no discharge violations from 2016 to 2018; Genesee, Kendrick had 71 and 50.

Moscow-Pullman Daily News

Read More

As the summer heat descends on Idaho, be on the lookout for toxic algal outbursts in your favorite river, stream, lake, reservoir or pond.

Twin Falls Times-News

Read More

According to a new report, the Snake River plain aquifer is holding a dirty secret.

KMVT 11 Twin Falls/KSVT 14 Sun Valley

Read More

“Our primary concerns are that if the fuel breaks are not properly maintained, they could increase rather than decrease the risk of wildfires.”

Idaho Falls Post Register

Read More

Finding a consensus may require compassion and humility as well as outside-the-box thinking.

Christian Science Monitor

Read More

Gemma Gaudette talks to ICL about low scores and how ICL wants to help change that trend.

Boise State Public Radio/Idaho Matters

Read More

Idaho Conservation League Executive Director Justin Hayes, a panel member, questioned Little about appearing to take dam breaching off the table. But he also said Little forming the panel showed he cared about healthy salmon and steelhead populations.

AP

Read More

Sandpoint was among 87 Idaho communities to receive a failing grade in an Idaho Conservation League report analyzing the health of the state’s wastewater treatment systems.

Sandpoint Reader

Read More

The roads are getting increasingly crowded. Ada and Canyon counties are expected to have over 1 million people by 2040, almost twice as many as in 2010, according to Compass.

Idaho Press

Read More

“We thank Gov. Little for his leadership in convening a working group on salmon recovery and appreciate his invitation to participate. We look forward to working together with other stakeholders to find a solution for bringing healthy, sustainable populations of wild steelhead and salmon back to Idaho.”

Idaho Statesman

Read More

U.S. District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill issued the order Monday following a lawsuit filed by the Idaho Conservation League in January 2018.

AP/U.S. News & World Report

Read More

“It looks like it is short-circuiting the public involvement process, and what we have learned is that projects and proposals that have more public involvement, public engagement and public buy-in end up being more durable and broadly supported,” said Jonathan Oppenheimer of the Idaho Conservation League at Boise.

Lewiston Morning-Tribune

Read More

George Prentice talks with Marie Callaway Kellner and John Robison about two separate hearings scheduled regarding the Sawtooth National Forest.

Boise State Public Radio/Idaho Matters

Read More

You’d be shocked if the gas station tried to charge you more per gallon for using less fuel. Or the water utility raised your rates because you’re saving water. Yet, Idaho Power wants to do just that with Idahoans who create their own energy.

Twin Falls Times-News

Read More

They were recommended by the Ketchum Sustainability Advisory Committee, . . . which consists of Councilwoman Courtney Hamilton, architect Rebecca Bundy, and Betsy Mizell, central Idaho director for the Idaho Conservation League.

Idaho Mountain Express

Read More

Marie Kellner, water associate at the Idaho Conservation League, said the group does have some questions about the bill and hopes there would be adequate oversight over approving any new recharge efforts.

Idaho Falls Post Register

Read More

Volunteers from the Kaniksu Land Trust, Kinnickinnick Native Plant Society, Idaho Conservation League, and Bonner County Master Naturalists, along with students from a half dozen schools, put in 1,467 hours planting 20,813 native shrubs and trees.

The Earth Island Journal

Read More

“The ‘big game’ in Idaho and the West is in burned areas,” (Jonathan) Oppenheimer said.

Idaho Statesman

Read More

Josh Johnson, Central Idaho conservation associate for the nonprofit Idaho Conservation League, said, “This EcoFlight will help raise awareness of the places we are working to protect. … "

Idaho Mountain Express

Read More

"These wild and scenic rivers are amazing with entrenched canyons and if you love rivers this is one of the best river floats you can do in the world," said (John) Robison.

KIVI

Read More

Betsy Mizell, the executive director for Idaho Conservation League’s Ketchum office, started the program four years ago after she was dismayed to find burnt food packaging and aluminum foil in fire rings while hiking in the White Cloud Wilderness area north of Ketchum.

Twin Falls Times-News

Read More

“It’s clear to everyone that the strategy of ‘our interests are more important than your interests, let’s fight’ doesn’t work,” Hayes said.

Grist

Read More

John Robison of the Idaho Conservation League said he was pleased that Little noted the importance of having conservation groups at the table on shared stewardship decisions.

AP/Idaho State Journal

Read More

“When those bears were killed in 2017, it was pretty devastating,” said Betsy Mizell, who runs the Idaho Conservation League’s Ketchum field office. “This order will keep future wildlife alive, and educate people who use these forests. I think it’s very exciting.”

Idaho Mountain Express

Read More

“Congressman Mike Simpson made the most important speech from an Idaho politician in 15 years,” Hayes said. “He understands fully the challenges that all Idahoans face in working to find a solution that saves Idaho salmon and steelhead while keeping everyone whole.”

Idaho Statesman

Read More

"We don't owe Idaho power a certain amount of money. We're not obligated to consume a certain amount of their electricity," said ICL's Ben Otto.

KIVI

Read More

"It's really shocking when you think about how much this community relies on the river," said (Marie) Kellner. "It is not just for irrigation and the water in our homes, but also for quality of life."

KIVI

Read More

Discussion reignited debate between motorized and nonmotorized recreationists; according to Josh Johnson, conservation associate at the Idaho Conservation League, the current administration falls squarely in favor of the former.

Idaho Mountain Express

Read More

Marie Callaway Kellner, an attorney at the Idaho Conservation League, expressed disappointment in Tuesday’s decision, saying the conditions don’t do enough to protect the Boise River’s flood flows, which help maintain the fishery on the river.

Idaho Press

Read More

According to Rick Johnson, director of the Idaho Conservation League and (Ed) Cannady’s longtime colleague, Cannady takes an ideal approach to spreading the good word of the wild.

Idaho Statesman

Read More

"We're enthusiastic about it and eager to continue to assist the utility on how to achieve this goal," said Ben Otto, the Idaho Conservation League's energy associate.

NPR

Read More

President Donald Trump has nominated William Perry Pendley to lead the Bureau of Land Management. Pendley currently serves in that role on an interim basis. ICL's John Robison weighs in on the nomination.

The Spokesman-Review

Read More

"We have had interim committee's in the past, we have lots of different boards and commissions, and ultimately we see this as growing government," Jonathan Oppenheimer, with the Idaho Conservation League, said.

AP/KTVB

Read More

After about a year of regular meetings, officials say Idaho Gov. Brad Little’s workgroup on salmon and steelhead recovery is moving into a new phase of drafting policy recommendations. ICL's Executive Director Justin Hayes weighs in.

Post Register

Read More

Read More

A group of native American tribes and labor and environmental groups filed suit to stop the implementation of a new federal rule that limits the scope of waterways under federal protection.

Great Lakes Now

Read More

Payette Lake is a getaway destination for many Idahoans and people from throughout the Northwest. But the future of the land surrounding the lake could soon look different. A private investment company wants to swap land with the state. If approved, the company would get 28,000 acres in Valley County and the state would more profitable timberland up in North Idaho.

KTVB7

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More