ICL In the News

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After the final gavels fell in the legislatures in Idaho, Iowa and Missouri, Big Ag’s corporate lobbyists may be stinging from a hard lesson: that accountability still matters.

Des Moines Register

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This year, the Idaho Conservation League partnered with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality to help educate the public on how to spot algal blooms this summer before they cause harm to people or pets.

Bonner County Daily Bee

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“We don’t produce enough electricity statewide. While we’ve historically relied on hydropower for most of our electricity production, because of droughts, things are getting worse. Hydropower production is decreasing, and we can no longer rely on the old way that we produce electricity.” - ICL Climate Program Manager Adrian Gallo

Idaho Capital Sun

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Several environmental groups, including ICL, have challenged the CuMo Project in court over the last decade.

Boise State Public Radio

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While this IJC referral is a huge success and a major milestone, the work of reducing pollution is just beginning.

Sandpoint Reader

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The Idaho Conservation League has joined the federal lawsuit challenging the U.S. Forest Service’s approval of Perpetua Resources’ Burntlog Route Geophysical Investigation.

Moscow-Pullman Daily News

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“We are still in the early stages of reviewing the BLM’s Final EA and Decision Notice, but what is immediately apparent is how many people in the local community are concerned about this project. Virtually all of the hundreds of public comments the BLM received on this project express some form of opposition or concern and highlight key issues such as impacts to wildlife, public safety and transportation, and air quality. We strongly believe that a project of this scale and public concern warrants further review under an Environmental Impact Statement.” - ICL Central Idaho Director Josh Johnson

Idaho State Journal

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“PacifiCorp made made a bold request to shift wildfire liability away from the company and onto customers; the commission was right to reject it. Reducing the company’s liability doesn’t get rid of costs, it just changes who bears them.” - ICL Energy Policy Associate Brad Heusinkveld

Idaho Statesman

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The board moved to remand the permit to a hearing officer to collect more evidence surrounding the arsenic emission the Stibnite Gold Project would produce.

Boise Dev

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The controversial mine adjacent to the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area is opposed by the Nez Perce Tribe and the conservation groups Save the South Fork Salmon and the Idaho Conservation League.

Lewiston Tribune

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The Idaho Board of Environmental Quality, a seven-member advisory body at the Department of Environmental Quality, issued a decision that the agency had not followed the law when it analyzed the health effects that arsenic pollution related to the mine could have on people nearby.

Idaho Statesman

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On Thursday, May 9, 2024 the Idaho Board of Environmental Quality issued a decision invalidating Perpetua Resources’ air pollution permit for the proposed Stibnite Gold Mine in Valley County.

KTVB

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ICL was among the groups challenging the air permit, and have filed multiple challenges to the proposed mine over other environmental concerns.

Boise State Public Radio

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John Robison, the public lands and wildlife director for the Idaho Conservation League said the recreation surge in the Owyhee Canyonlands has coincided with an increase in illegal, user-created trails, which have been degrading the landscape. He hopes the agency will address this issue.

Boise State Public Radio

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"We all benefit from a swimmable, fishable and drinkable lake, and it takes each of us acting as stewards to ensure it remains that way. When we work together, as stewards, we can make sure that living in a lake town stays a lifestyle that can’t be beat." - Karissa Huntsman, ICL water quality monitoring program organizer

Sandpoint Reader

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“Saving this special place and its prime bull trout habitat is a priority concern for our community, with unprecedented numbers of people speaking up to protect it." - ICL North Idaho Director Jennifer Ekstrom on the effort to protect Trestle Creek from inappropriate development

Bonner County Daily Bee

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“We’re thrilled to continue our collaboration with the city for this event. We had a great turnout last year, and collected a wide variety of garbage, from bottle caps to horseshoes and even car parts. Without the time and energy given by our community members, many of these items would have been lost in the lake as the water levels rose.” - Karissa Huntsman, community engagement specialist with ICL

Idaho Capital Sun

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According to the Idaho Conservation League, the fungus can be found near streams and ponds, in open areas, brushy areas, along trails, and “everywhere in between.” They can often be found in groups or “seams,” so when one is found, keep an eye out for others nearby.

Bonner County Daily Bee

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"We hope the State of Idaho works constructively toward this goal - after all, to ensure that Idaho's wildlife heritage is passed down to future generations, the full range of Idaho's native wildlife must be represented across our lands and waters." - Idaho Conservation League

MSN

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"Unless meaningful action is taken to reduce carbon emissions, the long-term prognosis for Schweitzer isn’t good... Alterra should consider developing a climate action plan specifically for Schweitzer." - Brad Smith, conservation director with ICL

Sandpoint Reader

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Lexi Black, the Central Idaho Community Engagement Specialist for the Idaho Conservation League, joined Idaho Matters to talk about the return of ICL's Artist in Residence program.

Idaho Matters - Boise State Public Radio

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A federal court ruling that limits wolf trapping and snaring in Idaho could aid recovery of grizzly bears in the region.

Public News Service

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Andy Sewell was the last artist selected for the residency, in 2020. He grew up in Ketchum and now lives near Moscow. He creates watercolor painting and dabbles in metal work.

“It wan an honor. And it fit me well because I grew up in Idaho and I have always loved to paint imagery of Idaho from north to south.” - Idaho artist Andy Sewell on his experience as an ICL Artist In Residence

Idaho Mountain Express

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Steve Nadeau, a retired Idaho Department of Fish and Game large carnivore biologist and author of the book “Journey of the Bitterroot Grizzly Bear,” spoke about grizzlies during an ICL webinar Thursday. Nadeau says an enhanced natural recovery could include constructing wildlife crossings or implementing policies that improve wildlife corridors and reduce potential bear mortality.

Idaho Statesman

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On Monday, the Ktunaxa Nation, U.S. and Canada took the first step to address mining pollution in the Elk-Kootenai Watershed, by submitting the issues to the International Joint Commission.

Bonners Ferry Herald

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"We can definitely develop a tenable plan for the Bitterroot with the right mix of vision, of leadership, and courage, which is what it's going to take, and the bears themselves have shown that this can be done." - Jeff Abrams, wildlife program associate with ICL

Public News Service

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Volunteers working with the Idaho Conservation League were honored with the Gov. Cecil D. Andrus "Volunteer of the Year Award" for their efforts in water conservation.

Coeur d'Alene Press

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ICL Executive Director Justin Hayes joins KTVB to discuss the recent formal launch of a $1 billion plan to help recover salmon populations in the Pacific Northwest.

KTVB

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“This signing marks a milestone in the long-running fight for abundant salmon and steelhead in the Snake and Columbia Rivers. The U.S. Government is making significant commitments to invest in salmon recovery and to replace and modernize the services provided by the lower Snake River dams, putting the region on a pathway toward their removal.” - Justin Hayes, ICL Executive Director

Spokesman Review

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“Challenging multinational corporate interests in court is never an easy undertaking, but if this bill had passed it would have barred the courthouse doors for hardworking Idahoans who may suffer pesticide poisoning.” - Jonathan Oppenheimer, government relations director with ICL

Idaho Press

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"We're not coming at this from a perspective of 'pesticides shouldn't be used.' We're coming at this from a perspective of, 'there should be justice for those who may be harmed by using products if they are not warned about those potential health consequences.'" - Jonathan Oppenheimer, government relations director with ICL

Public News Service

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“All Americans should celebrate the recovery path these bears are on, thanks to ESA protections. However, these gains haven’t been made with all of the grizzly populations — especially in the Bitterroots.” - Jeff Abrams, wildlife program associate with ICL

Eco Watch

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Adrian Gallo, Idaho Conservation League climate campaign coordinator, supports renewable energy and an updated plan. He said including Idaho will ensure there are clear guidelines about what solar projects are allowed and where.

KTVB

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“If pesticide manufacturers need immunity for products they know to be safe, why do they need immunity? There are already systems in place to eliminate frivolous lawsuits. ... It’s a very high bar currently to be able to prove the definitive link between pesticide use and personal damage, and we urge you to leave that in place.” - Jonathan Oppenheimer, government relations director for ICL

Idaho Press

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Jeff Abrams, wildlife program associate with ICL, weighs in on Idaho's announced plans to sue the federal government if the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service doesn’t reverse its decision to list the wolverine as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

Boise State Public Radio

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"If we are going to tackle climate change, ease its most dire effects and protect our future winter recreation opportunities, then we need to work together. Whether your winter adventures are on skis, a board, snowmobile or snowshoes, the future of these experiences relies on taking action today."

Sandpoint Reader

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Oregon, Nevada and Idaho conservationists are suing the U.S. Air Force, arguing that expanded low-altitude F-15 fighter jet flights over the Owyhee Canyonlands will harm the “quiet and solitude” of the vast high-desert region.

The Oregonian

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Environmental groups are challenging the US Air Force’s decision to expand military aircraft trainings over the Owyhee Canyonlands, expressing concern for the area’s plant and wildlife species.

Bloomberg

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“It’s kind of a multiverse of different groups, different areas of focus, different skill sets, different memberships, different resources. All of which is really important for the ecosystem.” - John Robison, public lands director for the Idaho Conservation League

Idaho Press

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In late December, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission approved two proposals presented by Idaho Power, altering both its general rate and the credit system for customers with rooftop solar installations.

Idaho Capital Sun

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Brad Heusinkveld, an energy policy associate with the Idaho Conservation League, told the Statesman that the uncertainty around net metering rates has slowed investments from some of the biggest solar customers.

Idaho Statesman

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“This partnership between the Six Sovereigns, conservation groups, and the federal government is unprecedented. We are relying on the Biden administration to ensure that all federal agencies, including the Bonneville Power Administration, are aligned and urgently implementing the commitment.” - Mitch Cutter, ICL Salmon & Steelhead Associate

Idaho Mountain Express

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"After decades of litigation, the historic initiative among states, tribes and the federal government signals a dramatic change for the region."

High Country News

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“I am honored to be selected for this role. I look forward to leading staff and collaborating with our members and others who care about Idaho to safeguard our air, water, wildlands and wildlife for the benefit of present and future Idahoans.” - Brad Smith, ICL's newly appointed Conservation Director

Bonner County Daily Bee

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Well known for his conservation work throughout the region, longtime ICL North Idaho Director Brad Smith has a new title with the statewide organization: Conservation Director.

Sandpoint Reader

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Lily Saperston, youth engagement coordinator and Youth Salmon Protector with ICL, was selected for BoiseDev's Great Student Award for her good deeds in the community.

Boise Dev

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The agreement looks to restore salmon abundance and Tribal justice by planning ahead and paving a path toward breaching the four lower Snake River dams.

Tri-City Herald

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Brad Heusinkveld, energy policy associate for the Idaho Conservation League, told the Idaho Statesman the application caught his eye because it’s “a really, really dramatic request."

Idaho Statesman

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“Not only are these mines polluting the water in Montana and Idaho, but these mines are also emitting carbon into the air that is exacerbating climate change.” - Jennifer Ekstrom, North Idaho Lakes Conservation Associate for ICL

Idaho Capital Sun

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While this is definitely a victory for conservationists across the western United States, it is the decisions moving forward that will really shape the future of the wolverines in Idaho and the rest of the lower 48.

KLEW

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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists the animals in Lower 48 states after more than a decade of back-and-forth decisions.

Lewiston Tribune

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After nearly three decades of petitions by wildlife conservation groups, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has listed wolverines as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.

Idaho Press

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“We have a proposal here called the Stibnite Gold Project, which would essentially introduce a year-round industrial byway at 8,000 feet directly adjacent to the Frank Church River of No Return wilderness area. ICL is concerned that it could compromise the condition of the existing wolverine populations in the area and create added stresses to animals using, residing in, or migrating through that habitat.” - Jeff Abrams, ICL Wildlife Program Associate

Sierra Club

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“This decision was not only science-driven, but it was the only logical conclusion we, as a country could make,” ICL Wildlife Program Associate, Jeff Abrams told the Express. “Nothing less will be required to ensure essential habitat in Idaho and other remaining wolverine strongholds continues to be hospitable for these rugged, iconic creatures.”

Idaho Mountain Express

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"We've got a ruling that is really favorable toward setting the table to take appropriate measures going forward for the stabilization of wolverine populations, and then, hopefully, an increasing trend for their rebound." - ICL Wildlife Program Associate, Jeff Abrams

Public News Service

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“Biologists estimate a loss of more than 40% of suitable wolverine habitat in Idaho by 2060 if we fail to act. This decision allows us to move forward on recovery actions to prevent such extensive loss of wolverine habitat and recover wolverine populations.” - ICL Wildlife Program Associate, Jeff Abrams

Idaho Capital Sun

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In 2022, Kuna's North Wastewater Treatment Plant violated the federal Clean Water Act 16 times over a three-month period.

Idaho Statesman

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ICL monitors suction dredge mining across the state, and has placed several miners on legal notice to encourage Clean Water Act compliance and to protect Idaho’s rivers and streams from pollution.

Lewiston Tribune

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“We are thrilled for our stewards to be honored with an award named after Governor Andrus. He diligently advocated for the protection of Idaho’s special places and natural heritage, and these stewards strive to do the same.” - ICL North Idaho Community Engagement Assistant, Karissa Huntsman

Bonner County Daily Bee

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Water quality stewards with the Idaho Conservation League are receiving multiple awards from the Idaho Nonprofit Center and Serve Idaho, the Governor’s Commission on service and volunteerism.

Idaho Capital Sun

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A California man can be held liable for recreational gold mining that polluted an Idaho River, according to the Ninth Circuit which held that his mining waste can be considered a pollutant under the Clean Water Act.

Bloomberg Law

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Through this project, called the CuMo Mine Exploration Project, Idaho Copper hopes to find sufficient copper and molybdenum to excavate one of the largest open-pit accessible molybdenum mines in the world — all within the Boise River watershed.

Idaho Business Review

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"Mining has a really poor track record when it comes to water quality. We’re concerned about any project that could lead toward the creation of massive amounts of pollution in the Boise River headwaters.” - ICL Public Lands Director, John Robison

Idaho Press

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"The Biden administration has not endorsed dam removal but has been more sympathetic to the action than previous administrations. At the onset of the talks, the government committed to seeking a durable long-term strategy to restore salmon."

Lewiston Tribune

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A coalition of conservation groups represented by the nonprofit environmental law organization Earthjustice, with support from the state of Oregon and the Nez Perce Tribe, agreed to pause their two-year-old lawsuit against five federal agencies on Tuesday for at least 45 more days.

Idaho Capital Sun

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“We must not forget how important Trestle Creek is,” Idaho Conservation League North Idaho Director Brad Smith told the Reader. “In most years, over half of the bull trout spawning in the Pend Oreille Basin occurs in Trestle Creek, and it’s a place where families can easily take their kids to see kokanee. If we lose sight of what’s at stake, then what are we saving for the future?”

Sandpoint Reader

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“It’s disappointing that the Idaho Department of Lands ignored public concerns about the project. There is also evidence in the record that substantiates our concerns about the impact the project will have on Trestle Creek and bull trout.” - ICL North Idaho Director, Brad Smith

Bonner County Daily Bee

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"If we do projects like this in the same way and putting vulnerable areas at risk, we're going to end up with the same problems or worse problems. Instead, we need to protect the areas that really matter to community water supplies and figure out how to responsibly manage mining moving forward." - ICL Public Lands Director, John Robison

Public News Service

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Several local conservation groups, including ICL, Idaho Rivers United, Advocates for the West, and Golden Eagle Audubon, are joining together to challenge the most recent proposal for mining copper and molybdenum in the public National Forest near Grimes Creek.

KIVI

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A copper mining company hopes to explore a site near Boise River headwaters for an open-pit mine north of Idaho City, but environmental groups, including ICL, say the project would threaten water quality and wildlife. This is the latest variation of a project that was struck down twice in federal court because of its environmental impacts.

Idaho Statesman

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On October 10, 2023, ICL filed suit under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to compel Mountain Home Air Force Base to release public records as required by law. The records relate to the Air Force’s proposal to expand and intensify military aircraft trainings over the Owyhee Canyonlands of southwestern Idaho, southeastern Oregon, and northern Nevada.

Capital Press

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"As the Idaho Conservation League enters its next 50 years, it is clear that there will always be a need for our presence in North Idaho. The lakes and waterways that define our region of the state face greater threats than ever." - ICL North Idaho Director, Brad Smith

Sandpoint Reader

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"It's a natural, empathetic, human response to want to help wildlife, but it's actually not in the best interest of the deer." said ICL Wildlife Program Associate, Jeff Abrams. ICL gave the city suggestions about the ordinance, and hopes the city continues outreach efforts and that people take the new rules seriously.

KTVB

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"We're seeing this administration treat tribal justice much more seriously than past administrations have - at least say the right things about how it is paying attention to what tribes want and is going to factor them in not just as stakeholders but as coequal partners." - ICL Salmon & Steelhead Associate, Mitch Cutter

Public News Service

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An annual report compiled by the Idaho Conservation League shows that while some facilities have improved from past years, over half of Idaho’s wastewater treatment plants had at least one violation of the Clean Water Act in 2022.

Boise State Public Radio

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The federal Clean Water Act requires sewage and water to be cleaned and treated before returning to the environment. However, a new Idaho Conservation League study found 57% of Idaho's wastewater treatment facilities violated the act in 2022.

KTVB

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ICL's sixth annual analysis of sewage facilities in Idaho found that 57% of the state's wastewater treatment plants discharged harmful substances last year.

Public News Service

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“Those dams are not clean energy if they are resulting in the extinction of species and cultures.” ICL Executive Director Justin Hayes discusses clean energy, public lands, and the lower Snake River dams with the LA Times.

LA Times

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ICL's Lexi Black writes about another Snake River adventure, and how the amazing recreation opportunities the river provides remind us of the value of restoring this river and keeping it healthy, clean, and usable.

Idaho Press

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“We have to remember that our Public Lands are a shared space. As much as we all reap the benefits of these spaces, we must also recognize that we have a responsibility to look after them.” - John Robison, public lands director for ICL

Eye On Sun Valley

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Officials, developers and members of the public gathered for a public hearing regarding the Idaho Club’s permit request for a community dock at Trestle Creek.

Sandpoint Reader

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Proposed construction of luxury housing and a private marina near the mouth of Trestle Creek continues to draw concern, with over 200 Bonner County residents signing up to speak at the Sept. 6 public hearing on a revised plan for the development.

Bonner County Daily Bee

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From ICL’s perspective, Idaho Power’s new export credit rates don’t account for many of the benefits associated with residential solar power.

Boise State Public Radio

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“Trestle Creek is a gem of North Idaho and is one of the few places where families can easily observe spawning bull trout and kokanee. Given that the project would only benefit a small number of residents of The Idaho Club, this project is not in the public’s best interest. We’d be better served by recovering our endangered species and protecting natural wonders like Trestle Creek for generations to come.” - Brad Smith, ICL North Idaho Director

Bonner County Daily Bee

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The Environmental Protection Agency raises concern that an air quality permit issued by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality for the Stibnite Gold Project - a proposed central Idaho gold mine - is so lax that it may violate the Clean Air Act.

Lewiston Tribune

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“From our perspective, there is a need to strike a balance between treating aquatic invasive species and the introduction of potentially harmful herbicides.” - ICL's North Idaho Director, Brad Smith weighs in on herbicide treatments for flowering rush in Lake Pend Oreille

Sandpoint Reader

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"It's going to be a great thing for our state's wildlife and our economies. Animals needs to be able to move seasonally to find things like food, water and essential habitat. So, having safe travel corridors for this is critical to their survival." - Jeff Abrams, ICL Wildlife Program Associate

KTVB

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"ICL is generally uncomfortable with the idea of legislative solutions to wildlife management because they don't tend to be tethered to scientific evidence. Those approaches have historically not turned out well." - ICL Wildlife Program Associate Jeff Abrams on Idaho Sen. Jim Risch's introduction of a bill to fully delist grizzly bears in the lower 48, despite the species not meeting recovery goals in north and central Idaho.

Idaho Capital Sun

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Volunteers with ICL's Water Quality Monitoring Program work along Lake Pend Oreille’s shores to monitor pollution and advocate for clean water.

Idaho Capital Sun

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"Witness the Youth Salmon Protectors of Idaho as they work tirelessly to restore and preserve the region's wild salmon and steelhead populations."

Patagonia

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"Those with the most to lose are uniting to save the Northwest’s salmon and steelhead." The work of the Youth Salmon Protectors is being highlighted by Patagonia.

Patagonia

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Patagonia released a new film documenting the Youth Salmon Protectors' (YSP) work to save the Northwest’s wild salmon and steelhead population.

KTVB

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"Several conservation and fishing groups say the Snake River dams are making the river too hot for sockeye salmon. Now, they’re planning to sue the federal government to remove the dams."

NW News

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Josh Johnson has taken over leadership of ICL's central Idaho office.

Idaho Mountain Express

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Four conservation and fishing groups, including ICL, plan a lawsuit over high water temperatures in the Snake River, calling for actions that could include removing the four lower Snake River dams in Eastern Washington.

Tri City Herald

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A coalition of environmental groups, including ICL, will ask a federal judge to order dams on the lower Snake River to be breached as a necessary step to prevent the extinction of endangered sockeye salmon that spawn in central Idaho.

Lewiston Tribune

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The grid in the West is evolving and we're likely on the leading edge of an emerging renewable energy economy. We need to make wise and informed siting decisions, but since the federal government already collects the same information under the National Environmental Policy Act, ICL doesn't believe that this bill adds to that process.

Public News Service

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"Historically, this space has been dominated by white people, and it's important to broaden the umbrella for conservation. A fundamental piece of conservation is to care about the places they want to protect.” - Josh Johnson, ICL Central Idaho Director

KTVB

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Jonathan Oppenheimer, ICL External Relations Director, joined Idaho Matters to talk more about ICL's 50th anniversary.

Boise State Public Radio

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“Advocating for an issue such as salmon recovery, especially as a youth activist, can often feel daunting. With the unwavering support of partners like Patagonia, we are able to better spread our message and share the important work we have been doing.” - YSP member Lilly Wilson

Idaho Press

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"We don't often talk as much as about why are these happening. And some things we can't control, like it's going to be hot and sunny in the summer, but we can control the amount of nutrients that go into the water." - Josh Johnson, ICL Central Idaho Director

Johnson noted the origins of nutrient sources depend on the water body, but can come from agricultural runoff, waste from dairies and feedlots -- especially in southern Idaho -- or excess fertilizer on people's lawns.

Public News Service

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Wildfire risk is driving up utility rates across the West. Climate change has real costs, and companies should not pass them off to everyday ratepayers.

Idaho Capital Sun

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The Idaho Conservation League, which is marking its 50th anniversary, has appointed Josh Johnson as the new Central Idaho Director.

Eye On Sun Valley

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Patagonia has released a new film that features the Youth Salmon Protectors (YSP) in their fight to save wild salmon, steelhead, and orca.

KHQ

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ICL Public Lands Director, John Robison weighs in on how the BLM needs to update how it reviews, shapes, directs and manages renewable energy projects on public lands.

Deseret News

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The Biden Administration is committed to restoring Columbia Basin salmon and steelhead to abundance, rejuvenating Northwest fishing communities, upholding obligations to Tribal nations, and investing in renewable energy infrastructure. But one of the administration’s own agencies — the Bonneville Power Administration — is sabotaging these efforts from within.

Yakima Herald-Republic

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A trail connecting Stanley to Redfish Lake is scheduled to officially open this summer, decades after the idea was first conceived to connect the two important destinations for visitors to the Sawtooth National Recreation Area.

Boise State Public Radio

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Leading up to Conservation Day 2023 in McCall, Payette Land Trust Executive Director Craig Utter talks about the decades-long mission and the day-to-day hefty lifting of conservation in Idaho.

Boise State Public Radio

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"What we've seen so far in both the listening session and in the public comments is an overwhelming majority of people saying they want to breach the lower Snake River dams - because it's essential for salmon and steelhead, and because there's other ways of doing the things that the dams provide." - Mitch Cutter, ICL Salmon & Steelhead Associate

Supporters of keeping the dams say they provide essential energy, irrigation and barging functions. But Cutter noted that during listening sessions, more than three-quarters of commenters were in favor of breaching the dams.

Public News Service

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Although ICL is not part of this particular petition, Conservation Associate Will Tiedemann weighs in on the historic mining and active pollution in the Silver Valley area in North Idaho.

Idaho Press

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ICL and other conservation groups are seeking a judicial review of a state board's 2022 decision to throw out a previously accepted regional selenium level.

The Western News

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"This is essentially an opportunity for people that need to get rid of waste somewhere. To get rid of it with no culpability, they can do that now, because there's nothing keeping them from doing it." ICL Conservation Program Director, Marie Callaway Kellner weighs in on the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the Sackett v. EPA case.

KTVB

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“In deciding that water quality protections only apply to wetlands that have a visible connection to streams and lakes, the Court opened the door nationwide for waste disposal to run amok, allowing pollution to be disposed of at-will and with no accountability.” - ICL Conservation Program Director Marie Callaway Kellner

Idaho Capital Sun

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ICL weighs in on the Supreme Court ruling that is a blow to wetland protections, and defies the science that confirms wetlands and the critical role they play in protecting our streams, rivers, and lakes from pollutants.

KTVB

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“Clearly there are still pathways for water and snowmelt to percolate into the tailings pile and interact with tailings, which we know is nasty stuff, and make its way back out into the wetlands... Unfortunately, Triumph is the gift that keeps on giving, reminding us that we need to make sure mining companies are held accountable.” - Josh Johnson, Senior Conservation Associate with ICL

Idaho Mountain Express

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The U.S. Forest Service recently made permanent a years-long ban on motorized vehicles in the Rapid River area northwest of New Meadows. ICL celebrates the announcement, and weighs in on the importance of the area.

Boise State Public Radio

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In the summer of 2022, ICL began investigating the water pollution from the Galena Mine Complex in North Idaho. Our work prompted DEQ to significantly escalate their compliance and enforcement steps from warning letters to legal action against the mine.

Idaho Capital Sun

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Conservation groups in Montana and Idaho, including ICL, allege an oversight body unlawfully attempted to invalidate Montana’s 2020 selenium rule.

Montana Free Press

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ICL and other environmental organizations are speaking up for waters in Montana and Idaho which are suffering from selenium pollution from mountaintop removal coal mines in Canada.

The Saxon

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ICL Executive Director Justin Hayes spoke to Politico about the Bonneville Power Administration's (BPA) refusal of the Biden Administration's commitments to restore wild salmon and steelhead. A BPA spokesperson then said that the organization is taking an active role in the conversation convened by the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and that "breaching is on the table in those talks."

Politico

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"Population targets have not been met for Selkirk, Cabinet Yaak populations or the Bitterroot," said Jeff Abrams, ICL wildlife program associate. "We're not set up right now, as a state, to inherit those responsibilities."

Idaho News 6 - KIVI

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Pollution from upstream Canadian coal mines is endangering one of Idaho's largest rivers - the Kootenai River. Jennifer Ekstrom, ICL's North Idaho Lakes Conservation Associate, explains why the International Joint Commission needs to be put to work to solve the problem.

Public News Service

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“Despite this flashy industry narrative about climate change … at the end of the day, the mining companies still need to make a profit. It's a reminder that mining is, even in this day and age, boom or bust and subject to the whims of a global market." - ICL Senior Conservation Associate Josh Johnson

Despite a desperate need for clean energy projects, dropping market prices for cobalt have halted construction of Idaho's only cobalt mine – highlighting the need for organizations like ICL to continue watchdogging mining activities.

E&E News

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A new report from the Sightline Institute makes it clear: Idaho needs new policies to capitalize on mid-size, customer owned renewable and solar systems. ICL will continue to advocate at the Public Utilities Commission for an equal footing for solar owners.

Sightline Institute

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"I think the Fish and Wildlife Service appropriately responded to the state's petition. The state really didn't provide credible scientific backing for why the species was improperly listed." - Brad Smith, ICL's North Idaho Director

Lewiston Tribune

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"The key to pushing ahead on clean energy is for developers to create projects that actually provide benefits to people who perceive that they’ll be harmed by them, including conservationists, small-town residents, and Tribes." - Justin Hayes, ICL Executive Director

LA Times

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Only one of the four grizzly bear populations in Idaho have achieved recovery goals.

Idaho Press

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Selenium pollution from mountaintop-removal coal mines in Canada are wreaking havoc in the Kootenai River watershed.

Sandpoint Reader

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Travelers at the Idaho Falls Regional Airport can now purchase carbon offsets or donate funds toward the Idaho Conservation League.

KIFI

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The Gem State's largest celebration of charitable giving, Idaho Gives, wrapped up its four-day run with a final total of $3,755,500 raised for nonprofits.

KTVB

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Earlier this spring at the Society of Environmental Journalists Conference, ICL Executive Director Justin Hayes spoke on a panel alongside Bureau of Land Management Director Tracy Stone-Manning and others to discuss clean energy projects and land use.

Society of Environmental Journalists Conference

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Our North Idaho team – Brad, Jennifer, and Karissa – sat down with podcast host Katie Begalke to share some of the current challenges we are working on in the region.

EnVision Center News

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Rising coal costs and volatile natural gas prices are making for a busy year at the Public Utilities Commission. ICL continues to advocate for an end to fossil fuel reliance and policies that prioritized efficiency and customer choice.

Idaho Statesman

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Several dozen people turned up to help the Idaho Conservation League and city of Sandpoint to clean up City Beach and the downtown waterfront area along Sand Creek for Earth Day 2023.

Bonner County Daily Bee

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Putting our heads in the sand won't save NW salmon. The four lower Snake River dams and the services they provide must be replaced.

Mitch Cutter, published in Tri-City Herald

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ICL co-signed a letter supporting the City of Boise's zoning rewrite. The plan is a big step toward a more livable, walkable, and climate resilient city.

Idaho Press

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In celebration of Earth Day 2023, ICL partnered up with the City of Sandpoint to host a clean-up at City Beach and Lower Sand Creek.

KHQ

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The Forest Service is preparing to open a comment period for a re-imagined Sage Hen Restoration project. The original proposal for the project was withdrawn by the Forest Service after several complaints were filed by environmental groups, including ICL.

Idaho Capital Sun

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In regards to the proposed Lava Ridge Wind Project, ICL wants the BLM to go back to the drawing board to draft up new alternatives and to take a step back and come up with a statewide plan to identify spots suitable for renewable energy development.

Boise State Public Radio

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The federal government has announced plans to increase funding for the Columbia River Basin’s salmon hatcheries, but the influx of funds is only a fraction of what is needed.

Oregon Public Broadcasting

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In honor of Earth Day 2023, ICL, in partnership with the city of Sandpoint, is hosting a clean-up event at City Beach and Lower Sand Creek in Sandpoint.

Bonner County Daily Bee

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The Youth Salmon Protectors will be in Washington D.C. during Earth Week 2023 to pressure Congress to take action to restore endangered salmon and steelhead to Idaho and the PNW.

Idaho News 6

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ICL and its members have a direct and substantial interest in ensuring that Intermountain Gas provides fair rates that do not unduly burden customers and those interested in energy efficiency, conservation, and the environmental impacts of the energy system,” which is why ICL filed a petition to intervene in the case.

Idaho Statesman

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"If we genuinely care about our precious aquifer, then we should protect it from all sources of degradation—first and foremost the agricultural pollution that’s been occurring across the Snake River Plain for decades." - Josh Johnson, ICL Senior Conservation Associate

Mountain Express

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Here in Idaho, collaboration is a big part of not just protecting public lands but also solving natural resource issues, earning wilderness designation, and solving restoration and protection issues.

Boise State Public Radio

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ICL sued US Silver - Idaho Inc. for repeatedly discharging pollutants from its Galena Complex Mine without the appropriate state and federal permits, racking up approximately 1,253 separate Clean Water Act violations from March 2021 to February 2023.

Bloomberg Law

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ICL Salmon & Steelhead Associate Mitch Cutter gives a brief rundown of salmon in the PNW, their lifecycle, where the lower Snake River dams are and why they are detrimental to salmon, and the steps ahead for dam removal and salmon recovery.

WildBrewed

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“Building codes are important because they ensure the homes we build today are affordable to operate. Consumers rely on building codes because once a home is built it’s difficult to replace windows, insulation, heating ducts or walls.” - Jonathan Oppenheimer, ICL External Relations Director

Boise Dev

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"This outpouring of public concern for the aquifer should not be limited to Lava Ridge. The elephant in the room for our aquifer is the continued degradation of water quality from nitrate and phosphorus pollution due to the improper and/or overapplication of fertilizers and animal manure on the land." - Josh Johnson, ICL Senior Conservation Associate

Twin Falls Times-News

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"With your help, our communities can continue to be afforded the resilience and habitat these precious wetlands offer, as well as the timeless beauty they provide. The first step is to get the Corps to exempt Class 1 wetlands in Bonner and Boundary counties from their general permitting processes. Join us in protecting our commons; our amazing wetlands." - Jennifer Ekstrom, ICL North Idaho Lakes Conservation Associate

Sandpoint Reader

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“Anything that wasn’t in the building code that related to energy would appear to be precluded by this. I think that hits at the very point and one of the important questions with regards to this bill is, what exactly are the implications?” - Jonathan Oppenheimer, ICL External Relations Director

Boise State Public Radio

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ICL External Relations Director Jonathan Oppenheimer testified against Senate Bill 1084, citing multiple concerns about potential impacts of the bill on Idaho's wildlife.

Idaho Falls Post Register

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Idaho lawmakers moved forward with a bill that would remove Idaho Fish and Game and Idaho State Department of Agriculture oversight for similar facilities. ICL opposed it.

Idaho Statesman

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"Groundwater in southern Idaho really is one of our most important resources, and we shouldn't take it for granted, both in terms of having enough of it or for having it be clean enough to use. During National Groundwater Awareness Week, we should all be thinking about how we can protect our groundwater resources going forward." - Josh Johnson, ICL Senior Conservation Associate

KTVB

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As the Snake River faces increased allocated water needs, and the region faces drought, resources are running dry. “When there are droughts, it can get contentious in terms of water rights, and how water is allocated,” says Josh Johnson, senior conservation associate of the Idaho Conservation League.

Wine Enthusiast

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“We recognize the need to develop things where the risks are manageable. We are always open to hear how companies are doing things better, but responsible mining means recognizing that some places are too special to mine.” - John Robison, ICL's Public Lands Director, on mining for critical minerals

Bloomberg Government

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ICL is most concerned that the Boise area is approaching some of the trigger limits for ozone, a health hazard. Ozone, the main ingredient in smog, forms when pollutants from cars and other emitters chemically react with each other at low altitudes, according to the EPA.

Idaho Statesman

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While on paper, Perpetua Resources' restoration plans in their proposed Stibnite Gold Project sound good, they would still be dumbing material in pristine areas. Important spawning area for endangered fish would also be lost if the project moves forward.

Boise Dev

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“It remains unclear to us how a restoration-based project can end up impacting more than twice the area that is now disturbed.” - Randy Fox, ICL’s West Central Idaho Conservation Associate

The University of Idaho Argonaut

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A total of $150,000 is available for projects that protect and restore fish and wildlife habitat, water quality and biodiversity. Projects could be removing barriers to fish passage, improving spawning habitat and restoring streamside habitat.

Idaho Falls Post Register

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Jonathan Oppenheimer, external relations director for the Idaho Conservation League, called the bill a legislative end-run around collaborative efforts to address the lake and river basin locally.

Bonner County Daily Bee

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"In order for future generations to be able to enjoy the Snake River and the surrounding land like we do, we must all do our part to clean up the Snake River. That means uniting to safeguard the river, hold polluters accountable and promote efficient water use practices." - Josh Johnson, ICL's senior conservation associate

Idaho Press

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The Upper Salmon Conservation Action Program (USCAP) was created in partnership between Jervois and ICL in 2021 to fund efforts to protect and restore fish, water quality, wildlife habitat, and biodiversity within the Upper Salmon River basin.

Public News Service

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"The Lava Ridge Wind project includes the installation of hundreds of wind turbines on BLM lands near Dietrich, ID. If built, it would be among the largest in the western U.S., according to the Idaho Conservation League."

Big Country News

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“We have functionally restored this predator to the landscape and have been able to do that in a manner consistent with maintaining agriculture, ranching and many other uses of our forests.” - Jonathan Oppenheimer, ICL external relations director

Moscow-Pullman Daily News

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Sandpoint Reader

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“Under law, BPA must demonstrate ‘equitable treatment’ for fish and wildlife alongside power, transmission and other areas. This decision flies in the face of that mandate.” - Mitch Cutter, ICL Salmon & Steelhead Associate

Billings Gazette

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“I’m glad to be entering hopefully into a new era where stakeholder and public comments are considered and given due respect and consideration,” Jennifer Ekstrom, ICL North Idaho lakes conservation associate

Sandpoint Reader

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"While the mining company is presenting this as a restoration project, with a great vision for what the landscape could look like when they're done, our review of the actual documents raises serious concerns of whether their activities are really going to ever restore the site. It looks like mining is just going to make things worse." - John Robison, public lands director with the Idaho Conservation League

The Pacific Northwest Inlander

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Idaho's snowy wonderlands for recreation aren’t just places we visit, they are the permanent homes to our state’s abundant wildlife, and we have to enjoy them responsibly.

KTVB

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As Australia-based Jervois Mining prepared to open the United States’ only cobalt mine in Idaho’s Salmon River Mountains, ICL helped secure $150,000 in annual funding from the company for local conservation work — money that can also be leveraged to help secure matching funds from state and federal grants. Two years in, the funding has helped restore overgrazed streambanks and supported acquisition of vital fish habitat. Each year, the organization determines where the funding goes, with input from Tribes, agencies and others.

The Revelator

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“For years, regional fish recovery programs have gone underfunded because of BPA’s business struggles. Now, when the agency finally has one good financial year, salmon get shorted again,” Mitch Cutter, salmon and steelhead associate for the conservation group, said in a news release.

The Lewiston Tribune

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“Those restored riparian areas and meadows are great until you realize that there isn't enough soil leftover after mining to actually support those plants,” said John Robison, Public Lands Director at the Idaho Conservation League.

Boise State Public Radio

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Perpetua Resources, formerly known as Midas Gold, significantly changed its plans after the previous round of public comment.

Boise State Public Radio

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Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the updated Goals, Objectives and Policies for the Bonner County Comp Plan.

Sandpoint Reader

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Given the importance of wildlife to Idaho residents and the management of this resource, ICL has launched a program dedicated to conserving and restoring the full breadth of Idaho’s wildlife.

Post Register

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"So basically, it says there won't be any further development on his property, they won't be used to facilitate additional development of Cougar Island if and when the state does put some of those parcels back on the market.” - Jonathan Oppenheimer, ICL External Relations Director

KTVB 7

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Idaho Statesman

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"We think it is going to make things worse for the fish," said John Robison of the Idaho Conservation League who cited page the Fisheries Specialist Report on page 150. "In fact the forest service says that post closure there will be a net decrease in quantity and quality of bull trout habitat would occur despite fish passage barriers and an increase in lake habitat for bull trout."

Idaho News 6

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A California man who polluted the South Fork of the Clearwater River by suction dredging and refused to secure a permit as required under the Clean Water Act filed a notice of appeal over a court ruling ordering him to pay a $150,000 fine.

Big Country News

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Idaho Statesman

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“Whether looking at air pollution, landslides, avalanches, risks of hazardous spills, lowered stream flows, fragmentation and loss of habitat, water temperature, depletion of groundwater or the difficulty of revegetation — all of these will be more probable and intensified with a changing climate,” Anderson said. “This calls into question any modeling or predictions that the SDEIS makes about the mine’s possible impacts and any promises made for mitigation.”

Idaho Press

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“This project should be a net benefit, in terms of what we gain in terms of research and new techniques,” Johnson said. “There are a lot of diaries in the Magic Valley, some with 5,000, 10,000, 50,000 cows them. This is a 1,000- to 2,000-cow dairy that’s being operated under very controlled conditions. So I think in the long term, we need a project like this.” - Josh Johnson, ICL Senior Conservation Associate

Courthouse News

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“Protecting the island, its wildlife, and the experiences it holds for past and future generations is vital, which makes ICL excited to see this step in the right direction toward keeping Cougar Island the gem that it is.”

Idaho Statesman

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Join us for comment writing workshops to help #StopStibniteMine on Dec 5th in McCall and Dec 8th in Boise. Read this article or check out our events page for more details!

Idaho Press

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"We're seeing the results of these dams being old, frankly. They were started to be constructed in the '60s through the '70s, and I think we're seeing the result of infrastructure starting to outlive its useful life." - ICL Salmon and Steelhead Associate, Mitch Cutter.

Public News Service

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"Changes coming to energy efficiency codes in Idaho could remove widely accepted minimum standards for construction and affect homeowners in the Treasure Valley."

Energy codes are proven, cost-effective regulations that protect homeowners and renters, and conserve energy. Decision makers will once again discuss changes to these energy efficiency codes in February. Stay tuned for opportunities to take action!

Idaho Statesman

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Youth Salmon Protectors in the Wood River Valley hosted a banner drop at the Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls to support dam breaching and stopping salmon extinction.

Idaho Mountain Express

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“We are eager to support state management when and where it’s warranted. But we also believe that Idahoans in general want assurances that there will be a sound management plan and conservation strategy in place before that happens.” - ICL Wildlife Program Associate Jeff Abrams

Spokesman-Review

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Congratulations to ICL's Youth Engagement Coordinator Shiva Rajbhandari for being selected to attend COP27!

“I look forward to working with other youth leaders from around the world to advocate for our collective future, and I’m excited to apply what I learn to our organizing right here in Idaho.”

Idaho Capital Sun

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"Holding signs like “Honk if you love salmon,” and “Tribal justice,” members of the Youth Salmon Protectors travelled from the Wood River Valley staged an event on the Perrine Bridge to raise local awareness of the movement to remove four dams on the Lower Snake River in order to keep salmon from going extinct."

Times-News

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ICL's Energy Policy Associate, Brad Heusinvkeld writes about Idaho Power's plan to reduce compensation rates for solar customers and the consequences of that decision. "There’s no doubt solar power is coming to Idaho; the question is who should own the resource."

Idaho Statesman

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Despite claims of wanting to find solutions to their pollution in Montana and Idaho, Canadian mining company, Teck Resources is undermining efforts to clean it up.

The Narwhal

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ICL Conservation Associate, Will Tiedemann talks with Idaho Press about the importance of our communities' sewage treatment plants.

Shortcomings at treatment plants pollute our rivers, lakes and streams. While the causes are complex and the pollution's effects are often invisible, Idaho's sewage treatment plants can and should do better to protect our water quality.

Idaho Press

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"Even though the mining company is pitching this as a 'restoration' project, at its heart it remains an open-pit cyanide vat-leach mine that would basically transform the landscape and add millions of tons of toxic mining waste up in this headwater." - John Robison, ICL Public Lands Director

Public News Service

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"The Idaho Public Utilities Commission is holding public hearings this week on a study that could determine the future of rooftop solar in the state."

Weds., Nov. 2, from 6-9 p.m. at the Vera C. O’Leary Middle School in Twin Falls. People may also listen to the testimony virtually by calling 1-415-655-0001 and entering meeting number 2455 251 2587.

Thurs., Nov. 3, from 6-9 p.m. at the Idaho Public Utilities Commission in Boise. People may also listen to the testimony virtually by calling 1-415-655-0001 and enter meeting number 2454 163 5014.

Boise State Public Radio

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“'Rather than continue to spend billions of dollars repairing aging infrastructure, it’s time to make new investments in modern, clean energy systems that can replace these decrepit dams,' said Mitch Cutter, salmon and steelhead associate with the Idaho Conservation League."

Lewiston Tribune

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“The Forest Service and the mining company should go back to the drawing board and see how they can address the water quality issue better than in this latest plan." - John Robison, ICL Public Lands Director.

The public now has 75 days to review and comment on the plan. The Forest Service is planning a series of informational open houses in early December. Details here!

Boise State Public Radio

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"The Forest Service is preparing an environmental impact statement under the National Environment Policy Act, as it is required by law to do so.

Public meetings will be held at a variety of different locations to discuss the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) for the Proposed Stibnite Gold Project."

Learn more about the upcoming public meetings and how you can take action here!

KTVB

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"From its headwaters in eastern Idaho and Wyoming, the upper tributaries of the Snake River boast some of the best fishing on the planet.

The situation is much different downriver and across the state to the Oregon border. The once-mighty river dwindles to a trickle in places. Hot and full of pollution from agriculture and other industries, the river is plagued by toxic algae outbreaks, killing fish and prompting warnings for humans and their pets to stay out of the water."

Idaho Press

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"The City of Driggs has been sued by the U.S. Department of Justice for their Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) being out of compliance with its National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPEDS) permit...Over the last three years, it has been discharging ammonia at levels ~25 times higher on average than what its permit requires."

Buckrail

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"Water doesn’t know political boundaries. We need B.C. and Canada to take these concerns seriously and take action immediately per their stated priorities, before there’s an international environmental disaster." - Jennifer Ekstrom, ICL's North Idaho Lakes Conservation Associate, Brad Smith, ICL's North Idaho Director and partners write about the need for international cooperation to protect U.S. waters from Canadian mining pollution.

Calgary Herald

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"Should mining projects be lauded just because they’re mining for components used in electric vehicles or other environmentally friendly technologies? 'I think it’s important not to get too caught up in that,' said Josh Johnson, a senior conservation associate at the Idaho Conservation League, an environmental group. 'I think we also need to realize that in a warming climate, what else is critical? Clean water.'"

High Country News

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"Only three communities have had violations grow since 2020, those being Driggs, Nezperce, and Kendrick. According to the Idaho Conservation League’s bi-annual violations report, Driggs has been discharging water that is approximately 25 times greater than its permit allows for the last three years."

Teton Valley News

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"Officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said a permit for the Idaho Club’s proposed Trestle Creek development will remain suspended. The area contains critical kokanee and bull trout habitat."

Bonner County Daily Bee

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"Officials with an Australian company’s newly opened cobalt mine in east-central Idaho say it could soon produce enough of the key ingredient in lithium batteries to build 400,000 electric vehicles annually."

AP News

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"If Idaho can be part of a clean energy revolution, and do it in a safe way, we think that we should be part of that discussion." - Jonathan Oppenheimer, ICL External Relations Director

Idaho News 6

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Bonner County commissioners began Tuesday's meeting hearing public concerns over another minor land division in the Coolin wetlands area.

“One of the speakers said it looks as though this developer was trying to avoid the subdivision requirements. It doesn’t just look like it, they 100% were."

Bonner County Daily Bee

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“Tribes have always known what science fully demonstrates: Waters of the United States, including wetlands, are connected, and the Clean Water Act must comprehensively cover waters to protect and restore the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waters, consistent with Congress’s purpose and direction."

The Spokesman-Review

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“Having a source of cobalt here in the U.S., if it's able to be mined responsibly, you know, is an important thing and not something that should be taken lightly." - ICL Senior Conservation Associate, Josh Johnson.

KTVB

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"The Army Corps of Engineers has announced plans to revoke its permit for the Trestle Creek Marina, citing changes to the proposed project and 'significant objections to the authorized activity that were not earlier considered' — in particular, objections to possible impacts on vital bull trout habitat."

Sandpoint Reader

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"So, along with our partners from Montana, Idaho and British Columbia, the Idaho Conservation League wrote to Teck Resources asking them to support the IJC referral, the establishment of an Indigenous-led watershed board and to table their Fording River mine expansion plans until the dispute is settled." - Jennifer Ekstrom, ICL North Idaho Lakes Conservation Associate

Sandpoint Reader

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"If you own a home or are planning to buy a home near a canal, check with the city planning department to see if an easement can be secured for future pathways.

The Treasure Valley is at a juncture. We should all work together on a valley-wide master plan, so every city has some type of connection."

Idaho Capital Sun

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"The Idaho Conservation League’s brief contends that the Sackett wetlands are closely connected with Priest Lake, which they argue falls under navigable waters of the United States.

That connection, they argue, means the Sackett wetlands are themselves waters of the United States. The upshot: The Sackett property can be regulated through the Clean Water Act."

The Epoch Times

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Opinion from ICL Climate Campaign Coordinator, Aly Bean: "In Idaho, we are experiencing impacts of climate change in the form of decreased snowpack, more rain-on-snow events, and warmer stream and air temperatures. Climate change is no longer an issue that our decision makers can push off for the future - it’s impacting Idaho today."

McCall Star-News

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"The request filed earlier this week in U.S. District Court involves laws passed in the last five years that create a path through the Idaho Department of Water Resources for ranchers to take control of federal public land instream water rights through a state-approved forfeiture procedure."

AP News

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Trout Unlimited, Idaho Fish and Game, the Center for Biological Diversity, and Idaho Conservation League gave the students an hour-long presentation on the fish and other wildlife in Trestle Creek, before guiding them to the shore where they could see dozens of the bright red fish as they fought for breeding grounds.

Bonner County Daily Bee

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“Even if we come up with a big billion-dollar number, our constitution forbids us from sending a tax bill to Uncle Sam. I think all of this is a little exercise in futility to come up with a big, high number and wave it around in the air.” - Jonathan Oppenheimer, ICL External Relations Director.

Idaho Capital Sun

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"The Idaho Conservation League has released its fifth annual report on the state’s sewage treatment plants.

In its review published Wednesday, ICL said only 28 of the state’s 112 municipal water systems had no discharge permit violations."

Bonner County Daily Bee

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“A group of snowmobilers, conservationists, guides, hunters, and other community members recently gave a thumbs up to a proposed winter recreation plan that, if approved, would affect about 1 million acres of national forest lands." - Brad Smith, ICL North Idaho Director

Bonner County Daily Bee

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“The U.S. Fish and WIldlife Service’s biological opinion was unlawful since it failed to adequately analyze the effects of the project on a species threatened with extinction and on its critical habitat."

Bonner County Daily Bee

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The Idaho Conservation League’s Wilderness Stewardship Program fielded about 65 volunteers in Summer 2022 to patrol many of Idaho’s wilderness and roadless areas to clean up litter and human waste around camp sites, dismantle fire rings, and help educate wilderness users, among other things.

Recreate Responsibly Idaho

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“It is exactly the type of problem that Idaho Conservation League, Project 7B, and the Lakes Commission perhaps anticipated when we originally submitted comments. I'm asking you to extend the process and have a robust public engagement process in this.” - Jennifer Ekstrom, ICL North Idaho Lakes Conservation Associate

Bonner County Daily Bee

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"It’s easy today to take for granted the abundance of unspoiled and undeveloped lands that surround the Wood River Valley. But 50 years ago, federal protections didn’t exist as conservationists faced off against mining, ranching and development interests eager to access the region’s natural resources."

Idaho Mountain Express

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“The East Fork South Fork Salmon River is a special place that historically has been one of the most important habitats for summer chinook spawning in the entire Columbia River basin. We found some really big concerns regarding adverse effects to fisheries, particularly with increases to the temperature.” - John Robison, ICL Public Lands Director

Idaho Capital Sun

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ICL Salmon and Steelhead Associate, Mitch Cutter: “We agree that the dams’ most important services can and must be replaced, but time is of the essence. If we actually want to restore salmon and steelhead, Murray and Inslee must establish a concrete timeline for completing necessary studies and infrastructure improvements, deauthorizing the dams, and restoring the lower Snake River."

NBC Right Now

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While Murray and Inslee's report recognizes that dam breaching is the best option for salmon recovery, they do not set a timeline to reach this goal. ICL's Salmon and Steelhead Associate, Mitch Cutter: “That sort of urgency was a little lacking from their recommendations,” he said. “That is something we are asking of them.”

Big Country News

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Along with international partners, ICL has petitioned a Canadian mining company to support a federal, cross-border panel to review selenium pollution issues in boundary waters.

Vancouver Sun

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Josh Johnson, ICL Senior Conservation Associate: “We filed a lawsuit the second time because we still didn’t feel like the Forest Service and (Excellon) had done enough to assuage concerns over those sensitive resources, so now we just have to wait for things to play out in the court."

Post Register

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In May 2022, ICL participated in a panel on the future of the SNRA - challenges, protections, and how to preserve this special place. Read the report here.

Boise State Public Radio

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“How do you educate but also police the area and make sure people are treating the area with respect?” Wilder asked. “What does that look like?”

Idaho Statesman

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"While county planning staff presented a map from the U.S. Geological Survey showing only a small stream on the western side of the 40 affected acres, Idaho Conservation League Lakes Conservation Associate Jennifer Ekstrom urged the board to reconsider the facts. 'I would strongly suggest that this commission would give greater weight to our local agency with boots on the ground.'"

Sandpoint Reader

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"Despite a turnout of only about 20 people, the Planning Commission got an earful as they sought input to update implementation of Bonner County’s Comprehensive Plan."

Bonner Daily Bee

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"Idaho Power Company recently announced it was considering a ”transition” to a revised net-metering rate.The proposal drew criticism from environmental and consumer groups. The Idaho Conservation League said cutting the export rate in half would effectively make rooftop and other small-scale solar installations “financially unavailable” for many homeowners and businesses."

The Columbian Insight

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“'I think that we’re going to be seeing — if EPA complies with these timelines and what the science says — more stringent standards in Idaho,' said Justin Hayes, executive director of the Idaho Conservation League."

AP News

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Public Lands Director, John Robison on KTVB for Smokey Bear's 78th Birthday to talk about how we can help prevent wildfires in Idaho!

KTVB

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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

KTVB

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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

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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

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"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

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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.

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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

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"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

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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

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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

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

Idaho Statesman

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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

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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

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“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

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"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

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“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

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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

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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

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“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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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+

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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

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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

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

KTVB

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"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

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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

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"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

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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

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"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

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"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

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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

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“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

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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

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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

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"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

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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

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“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

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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

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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

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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.”

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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."

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"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

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“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

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"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

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"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

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

Lewiston Tribune

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"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

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"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

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"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

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"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

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"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

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"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

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"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

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"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

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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

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

Idaho News 6

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“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

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“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

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“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

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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

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

Public News Service

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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

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“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

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“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

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“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

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“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

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“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

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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

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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

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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

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"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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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“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

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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

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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

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"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

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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

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(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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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“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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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“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

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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

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"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

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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

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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

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A big welcome to new hires Aly Bean and Becca Rodack

Idaho Business Review

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(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

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“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

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“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

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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)

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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

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“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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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“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

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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

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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

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"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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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"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

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“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

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“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

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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

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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

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

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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

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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

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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

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