As the days are getting shorter and the first snowflakes fly in the high country, our team is looking back on our achievements of the last year. We’re so grateful to have the help of our supporters and community partners. We couldn’t do it without you.

Conservation in Idaho isn’t always easy, but protecting these special wild places like the Scotchman Peaks, Boulder-White Clouds, and Boise Foothills for future generations is worth it.

Thanks for supporting Conservation Voters for Idaho.

40 years of work: Boulder-White Clouds Wilderness

On August 7 2015, President Obama signed the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and Jerry Peak Wilderness Additions Act, formally designating 275,665 acres in the Boulder-White Cloud Mountains of Central Idaho as wilderness.

Voters choose conservation values

In November 2015, voters chose the pro-conservation candidates supported by CVI. We endorse candidates based on their commitment to Idaho’s public land heritage, clean energy, clean air, and clean water. Who were the candidates? We’re glad you asked: Boise Mayor Dave Bieter; Boise City Council Lauren McLean, Elaine Clegg, Scot Ludwig; Sandpoint Mayor Shelby Rognstad.

Boise’s clean water and open spaces

Boise voters approved a two-year, temporary override levy in November 2015 to protect open space and support improvement projects in areas like the Boise Foothills and the Boise River. It was a great victory for conservation and the quality of life for everybody in the Treasure Valley.

Protecting 80,000 miles of Idaho’s iconic rivers

After a four hour long committee hearing in February, the Idaho House Resource Committee voted unanimously to kill a bill that would have opened up Idaho’s rivers to unregulated, year-round suction dredge mining. It was wonderful to see so many community partners and state agencies join us in this victory.

Stopping anti-public lands legislation

In March 2016, Rep. Judy Boyle (R-Midvale) sponsored a bill that used incorrect, bizarre and extremist interpretations of the Constitution in an attempt to seize public lands. The bill was so bad, it not only threatened Idaho’s public lands, it also blatantly violated the rights of private property owners. CVI was able to secure bi-partisan opposition that killed the bill in committee.

Removing anti-public lands agitators from office

Two of the state’s politicians who were most hostile to public lands were Idaho County Commissioner Jim Chmelik and State Senator Sheryl Nuxoll. CVI worked hard in the Republican primary to insure both were defeated by candidates who aren’t driven by deep animosity toward our public lands.

Protecting Boise foothills

Eight months after voters in November 2015 voted to protect open space in the the Boise foothills, a proposal for a private airstrip in those same foothills went against the will of the people of Boise. When the Ada County Planning and Zoning Commission approved the airstrip, CVI and a wide ranging group of partners took action. Our efforts eventually led to the Ada County Commissioners rejecting the proposal.