The Idaho Board of Land Commissioners gave its final approval in late January to a land exchange with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), trading endowment trust land within the Owyhee Canyonland Wilderness.
The exchange will allow the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) and BLM to acquire lands better suited to their missions and objectives.
“More than 31,000 acres of non-wilderness federal land will be exchanged for nearly 24,000 acres of state endowment land,” according to a press release by IDL. “The equal value exchange is based on the appraised value of the lands being exchanged, not the size of the parcels.”
A total of 40 endowment parcels with 17 grazing leases will be exchanged for 11 federal parcels with 18 grazing permits. IDL will honor the duration of the remaining BLM grazing permits by issuing land use permits.
The land acquired by BLM will allow for consistent management within the area and “will enhance dispersed backcountry recreation by facilitating access to wilderness and improving opportunities for hunting, camping, fishing and river floating.”
BLM will publish a notice of decision and public comment period before the exchange can be completed.
