Both the Idaho Departments of Lands and Idaho Fish & Game budgets are being reconsidered in JFAC this morning, to re-set them without the Clagstone Meadows conservation easement funding, and instead write a new budget bill for the two pieces of the easement funding alone. The conservation easement, a Forest Legacy project that's been in the works for six years, was allocated $5 million in federal funds in the Lands budget, and $2 million in federal funds in the Fish & Game budget.  

Sen. Shawn Keough, R=Sandpoint, said, “Bonner County commissioners are having a public hearing today in Sandpoint on this issue and are taking public comment, and out of courtesy to them, I ask to hold onto the Clagstone piece and see what the outcome of that meeting is. And then we can make a determination on whether we want to move forward with that piece or not.”

She said, “In the meantime we do need to put together a budget for the Department of Lands and the Department of Fish and Game.” The new budgets for Lands and Fish & Game were approved on unanimous votes.