Utah is Not For Sale, and Neither is Idaho

Utah’s lawsuit to seize 18.5 million acres of public land has brought with it significant outcry from public land enthusiasts across the beehive state. It can be tempting to think the ramifications from this lawsuit would stay within Utah borders, but that is not the case. If there was any uncertainty the outcome would affect public lands across the nation, Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador recently made that crystal clear (and not in a good way).

Labrador Sells Out

Raúl Labrador recently filed an amicus brief in support of Utah’s land grab attempt along with the AGs of Alaska, Wyoming, and the Arizona state Legislature. Labrador demonstrated brazen disregard for the incredible nature of our federally managed lands, offering up 9 million acres of BLM land in Idaho. That’s nearly one third of public lands in the state. From the Snake River Plain to Hells Canyon and Lake Coeur d’Alene, these are lands that have been hunted and fished on for generations. The brief argues that these lands would be better served in Idaho state’s control where they can be used for more extractive purposes such as logging, grazing, and oil and gas development.  

Labrador’s actions fly in the face of Idaho’s storied history of federal public lands conservation advocates. Senator Frank Church championed the Wilderness Act, Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and established the River of No Return Wilderness; all of which are integral to the rugged outdoors lifestyle enjoyed by the people of Idaho as well as the visitors who contribute towards Idaho’s $7.8 billion recreation economy. Idaho’s Rep. Mike Simpson sponsored legislation to finally establish the Boulder-White Clouds Wilderness less than a decade ago. When Labrador claims that westerners can only dream of having 25% of their lands as public (yes he really said that), he does not speak for the people of Idaho, but rather for the people that stand to gain power and wealth from the transfer of lands to the state.

What’s at Stake for Idaho

At statehood each state received endowment lands from the federal government for the purposes of funding education. Unlike federal public lands which serve multiple uses (recreation, resource extraction, conservation etc), these state lands serve a single use: to make money. Generating revenue on these lands is done through logging, grazing, mining, and oil & gas leasing among other extractive dominant uses. So what happens when endowment lands aren’t able to generate enough money through private industry? We sell them. Since Idaho became a state, we’ve sold nearly 1.2 million acres which is about a third of the lands originally granted to the state.

Selling endowment lands isn’t an issue of the past. Idahoans may recall the 2020 Trident Holdings proposal to purchase and develop 28,000 acres of state land surrounding Payette Lake. This was met with staunch opposition and ultimately the Idaho Board of Land Commissioners denied the sale, but it did paint the picture of what the future would hold if the transfer to the state movement succeeded. Cherished public lands from the Lost River Range to the Salmon River country would be under constant threat of sale and development. Areas with enough extractive potential would be turned over to private industry interests. Your favorite elk hunting spot could be locked up behind the gates of an out of state billionaire, your pronghorn hole is now an oil drilling pad. What’s at stake cannot be underestimated.

Get Involved

For those who value the diverse opportunities afforded on our public lands, the stakes couldn’t be higher. And while BHA will continue to be the tip of the spear against threats to the shared national treasure that is our public lands system – your support could make all the difference. Help BHA ensure the voice of the hundreds of thousands of Public Land Owners across North America isn’t diluted or muted. Learn more and join the fight!