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Here are the minutes (pdf) for the March 17, 2011 meeting of the Southwest Idaho RAC.

The Southwest Idaho RAC meet Thursday April 21 at the Idaho Counties Risk Management Program (ICRMP) building, 3100 South Vista Avenue in Boise. 

The RAC will consider all projects submitted and will put them into one of FOUR categories:

1) Projects that the SWIRAC will consider for final funding at the May 26, 2011 – no presentation needed – no further information requested

2) Projects that the SWIRAC did not feel met the intent of Title II funding and will not be considered further

3) Projects that the SWIRAC felt that they needed additional information on and requested either:

a. email resolution to the questions

b. presentation at the May 26, 2011 SWIRAC meeting in Cascade, Idaho.

The Southwest Idaho RAC meeting that will be held next Thursday March 17th . We will meet at the ICRMP building, 3100 South Vista Avenue in Boise starting at 9 AM and adjourning at 5 PM.

Attached is an agenda in pdf format.

A familiar theme is emerging with RACs across Idaho, captured well by the Challis Messenger in a recent story:

“Too many forest projects and not enough money to fund them sums up the current status of the Central Idaho Resource Advisory Committee (CIRAC).

CIRAC already has about 50 projects proposed for 2011 and 2012 and there’s about three times as many 2011 projects as there is money to fund them, according to coordinator Kent Fuellenbach.”

Other RACs have similar experiences with effects on the best way to prioritize projects.  ”The good news is that the SCIRAC received some really good proposals, great proposals!” says the Sawtooth National Forest’s Julie Thomas.  ”Unfortunately, the amount of funding that the RAC received is not enough to fund all of the projects that they received.  Also, they received 21 projects.  This will mean a change in the process than was used last year.” Read more…

The Southwest Idaho RAC will meet Thursday, February 17 at the Idaho Fish and Game headquarters, 600 South Walnut Street in Boise.  As per the last meeting agreement the meeting will begin at 9:00 AM and adjourn at 5:00 PM.

The RAC has received an overwhelming number of applications for its first round submittals (25 proposals) and as well as many more for the final round due on Feb. 15th, 2011.

Read more…

The Southwest Idaho Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will be accepting proposals for review and possible funding for Fiscal Years 2011 and 2012 from mid-January to mid-May 2011.

“The RAC will be very busy this year because they have about $700,000 to award for 2011 and close to $650,000 to spend on projects for 2012,” said Payette National Forest Supervisor Suzanne Rainville. “The authority of the RAC to recommend projects expires on September 30, 2011, so they need to complete recommendations for two year’s worth of projects in the next ten months.”

A series of meetings and proposal deadlines have been established by the RAC over the next several months to select projects for funding. The funds are available through the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act, which was reauthorized for four years in 2008.

Read more…

I had the opportunity to attend the Idaho Forest Product Commission tour to Northern Idaho this fall. 

The day began boarding a chartered flight to Coeur d Alene, with a stop in Lewiston.  We arrived in CDA in a light rain, met our tour guide, Betty Munis, had coffee, muffins, fruit………well just about whatever one wanted.  There were 24 folks from various groups, organizations, government and business. 

The Tour was a great example of sustainable forest management through collaborative stewardship and the use of  forest lands to maintain their biodiversity, productivity, regeneration capacity, vitality and their potential to provide products for the various industries using wood products.

Read more…

The Southwest Idaho RAC will meet on Tuesday November 9, 2010 at the Idaho Counties Risk Management Program Building, 3100 South Vista Avenue, Boise, Idaho.

The meeting will start at 10:30 am and will likely adjourn at 4:00 pm.

The agenda is still under development and will include discussion on upcoming important dates and funding processes to give a perspective for the workload in the next two years.  Also, we plan to discuss the process for submitting RAC proposals, dates for submittal, and set the meeting dates for the upcoming year.

The Southwest Idaho RAC gathered in New Meadows on Thursday, August 12th, a beautiful, slightly cooler summer day — perfect for a field tour.  The objective for the meeting was to view some of the Title II projects in the New Meadows Area.

The first stop was Lost Valley Reservoir where the Payette National Forest has implemented projects to enhance habitat for the Northern Idaho Ground Squirrel, a species protected by the Endangered Species Act.  In some areas of squirrel habitat there has been a lack of fire and tree density has increased.  One project next to the reservoir has openend up more habitat with some tree thinning and also removing a road.  The RAC approved using some Title II funds to help with the public information and education on the site so people understand the reason for the need to protect the wildlife habitat.

Read more…

Hi All,

We will be hosting the Southwest Idaho Resource Advisory Committee Field Trip on Thurs. August 12th, 2010. I will send an agenda out next week but wanted to get the date on your calendars. We will meet in New Meadows on Thursday morning and visit a few sites that have been enhanced due to RAC approval and funding. Lunch will be provided for the RAC members.

If you need lodging arrangements, please contact my Support Services Specialist – Susie Barnett @ 208-347-0302. She will be happy to assist you.

Please let me know by Friday August 6, 2010 if you will be attending. Email response is great or you can call me at 208-347-0301.

Looking forward to a great trip.

Thanks,

Kim Pierson