Landowner Grant Money Available in Idaho

Money is available for Landowner Incentive Program grants, and the deadline to apply is February 1, 2008. This year $718,219 is available to private landowners to carry out conservation projects on private land. Landowners may apply to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. The application form, instructions, and evaluation criteria are available online at: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/wildlife/lip/default.cfm. The Landowner Incentive Program is a competitive grant process that provides financial assistance to private landowners for the protection, enhancement, or restoration of habitat to benefit at-risk species on private lands. The 2008 focus areas are: ¥ Palouse Prairie. ¥ Bear Lake Basin. ¥ Upper Henrys Fork. A 35-percent nonfederal contribution is required, which may include cash or in-kind contribution, such as labor, machinery or materials, from the landowner, land trust or other nonfederal organizations involved in the project. Priority will be given to projects that provide more than the required minimum 35-percent nonfederal contribution. Private landowners or groups, such as land conservancies or trusts working with private landowners, are encouraged to submit proposals for projects that conserve, enhance or restore habitats for at-risk species. Example projects include restoring native vegetation, prescribed burns, grazing management, brush and invasive weed management, removing fish passage barriers, stream restoration, and conservation easements. LIP biologists are available in Fish and Game regional offices to help. For information contact Karla Drewsen at Fish and Game, 208-334-2920.