Program areas at ICL
Public lands:icl worked to guard against threats to sustainable management of large, connected landscapes to protect and restore the ecological function of our public lands and native plants, fish and wildlife that depend on them, to secure Conservation benefits on public land via collaborative land management projects. We encouraged best practices for current and proposed mining projects, monitoring activity and using regulatory means to address concerns. We advocated for habitat protection for native wildlife such as sage grouse, bighorn sheep, grizzly bears, wolverine, bison and bull trout.
Climate: icl worked to reduce Idaho's contribution to the worldwide crisis of climate change by encouraging idahoans to conserve energy and our public utilities to divest from fossil fuel energy sources in exchange for renewables, encouraged the adoption of electric vehicles and mass transit, engaged in ways to reduce agricultural methane emissions, and promoted the adoption of carbon sequestration practices in industries including agriculture, forestry and more.
Restoring salmon and steelhead:icl worked to prevent the loss of wild salmon to Idaho and the associated catastrophic ecological and economic implications for the clearwater and salmon river ecosystems, and the fish, wildlife and people who call the northwest home. Icl worked closely with Idaho tribes, local and regional partner organizations, and other supporters to seek bi-partisan support for wild salmon recovery through snake river dam removal and to mitigate the effects their loss has had on the northwest. Other program services: we also worked to communicate, educate, create and organize grassroots actions that connect with local decision-makers and lead to policy change, participated in coalitions and partners with other like-minded organizations to achieve our Conservation goals, and communicated with the media, policymakers and elected official to encourage policies that support each of icl's programs. We also created a diversity, equity, inclusion and justice plan to ensure that our Conservation work is being done in an equitable and just way.
Snake river, north Idaho lakes and water: icl worked to make the snake river across southern Idaho safe, fishable and swimmable again, worked to ensure the enforcement of regulated discharges and reduce the amount of unregulated agricultural surface runoff and nitrate-laden groundwater discharges to the snake river, worked to create a framework for a joint state/federal/tribal/private basin-wide terrestrial and aquatic restoration plan. We engaged in a program to monitor the health of northern Idaho lakes and rivers, and encourage policy that protects water quality.