Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho) at the Idaho GOP election night watch party at the Grove in Boise, Idaho on November 8, 2022. (Otto Kitsinger for Idaho Capital Sun)
Idaho Lawmaker Initiates Statewide Talks on Federal Land Management
U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher of Idaho has announced plans to convene meetings across the state to examine whether management and ownership of federally controlled lands should be transferred to state and local governments.
In a letter sent to statewide elected officials, legislators, and county commissioners, Fulcher said discussions on the future of Idaho’s public lands are becoming increasingly urgent. He described a shift toward local control as a matter that requires immediate planning.
Federal Ownership Covers Majority of Idaho Land
Nearly two-thirds of Idaho’s land is owned and managed by the federal government. Fulcher said this extensive federal presence limits Idaho’s flexibility in managing natural resources such as timber, grazing areas, and mineral leases.
He also raised concerns about the long-term reliability of federal compensation programs designed to offset lost local tax revenue. These include Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) and Secure Rural Schools (SRS), which provide funding to counties with large amounts of non-taxable federal land.
Fulcher argued that congressional support for these programs is inconsistent, particularly among lawmakers from states with little federal land.
Public Access and Land Sale Concerns Raised
Opponents of transferring federal lands to state or local governments have questioned whether public access would be preserved under a different ownership structure.
Some conservation advocates point to Idaho’s history of selling portions of state-managed endowment lands. These lands are legally required to generate revenue for beneficiaries such as public schools, which can result in land sales.
Recent state land transactions near the Teton Mountains have renewed these concerns, even though many state lands remain open to the public.
Mixed Views Among Idaho’s Congressional Delegation
Rep. Mike Simpson of Idaho has previously expressed reservations about the financial feasibility of transferring large portions of federal land to state control. He has cited past legislative analyses that concluded the costs of managing those lands would be substantial.
Simpson has also co-sponsored bipartisan legislation aimed at limiting large-scale sales or transfers of federal land, allowing only narrow exceptions.
Fulcher, however, previously supported an amendment related to a proposal to sell certain federal lands in the western United States.
Wildfire Management Cited as Key Issue
Both Fulcher and conservation groups agree that federal land management has struggled to adequately address wildfire risks.
Fulcher has stated that insufficient land management contributed to widespread wildfires in Idaho, which burned close to one million acres in a recent year and placed financial strain on local communities.
In response, Idaho recently entered into a new agreement with the U.S. Forest Service to expand cooperation on forest management and increase targeted logging activity in national forests.
Conservation advocates acknowledge that federal land agencies face funding and staffing shortages, noting that Congress controls agency budgets.
Governor Signals Improved Federal Coordination
Idaho Governor Brad Little has previously criticized federal oversight of public lands. More recently, he has indicated improved satisfaction with current federal land management efforts, though his office did not provide additional comment on the proposed discussions.
Related Coverage
- Idaho News – https://idahonews.co/idaho-news-3/
- National News – https://idahonews.co/national-news/
About the Author
