Idaho Department of Lands

What Idaho Department of Lands does

The Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) is a state government agency headquartered in Boise, Idaho, with a regional office in Coeur d'Alene, operating under the authority of the Idaho State Board of Land Commissioners. IDL's primary mandate is to manage Idaho's endowment trust lands — lands granted to the state at statehood — to maximize long-term financial returns for public schools and other trust beneficiaries. The agency generates revenue through timber sales, real estate transactions (including cottage site sales and right-of-way), and leasing programs covering commercial, energy, geothermal, grazing/farming, mineral, oil and gas, residential, and sage grouse uses on trust lands.

Beyond trust asset management, IDL operates a Fire Management Bureau responsible for fire suppression and prevention on more than 9 million acres of state, private, and federal land through 13 Forest Protective Districts, two Timber Protective Associations (CPTPA and SITPA), and 10 nonprofit Rangeland Fire Protection Associations. The agency also administers the Idaho Forest Practices Act, the Idaho Dredge & Placer Mining Protection Act, the Mined Land Reclamation Act, and the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Act, and it manages 61 navigable lakes and 32 navigable rivers through a Navigable Waterways Program. Service delivery is supported by a distributed field office network spanning Priest Lake, Pend Oreille, Ponderosa, Mica, Clearwater, Maggie Creek, Craig Mountain, Payette Lakes, St. Joe, Southwest, Eastern, Kootenai Valley, Cataldo, and Jerome.

IDL's underlying technology is a GIS-centric service platform built on tools including the Endowment Land Locator, the Public Regulatory Compliance Application (mapping plus worksheet for timber harvest notifications), the Idaho Fire Map (real-time wildfire tracking), the IDL GIS Program for Idaho maps and land records, and a Wildfire Alert System delivering SMS and email notifications across all 13 Forest Protective Districts. Customer-facing distribution runs through online self-service portals (payments via NIC USA, permit applications, GovDelivery newsletters, encroachment permit database), field offices, and Forest Protective Districts. Pricing is fee-based at the transaction level (burn permits, lease payments, timber sales, encroachment permits) supplemented by legislative appropriation and cost-share programs (CRP at 50% cost-share, EQIP targeting 50% reimbursement, Habitat Improvement Program up to 75% cost reimbursement).

Name

Idaho Department of Lands

Legal name

Idaho Department of Lands

Website

https://idl.idaho.gov

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Idaho Department of Lands is a state government agency that manages Idaho's endowment trust lands to generate revenue for public schools and provides fire suppression, forestry, mining, and navigable waterways oversight across the state.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Land Management

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Non-Operating Establishments (9995), Real Estate Dealers (For Their Own Account) (6532)

akta.pro primary industry

Forestry & Public Lands Administration (State/National Forests) (BPAIAMAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

State/Provincial Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration (BPAIABAL), Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC), Conservation & Protected Land Brokerage (Easements, Land Trust Sales) (BPAJADAH), Timberland Asset Management (Institutional/Private) (AFAMAKAA)

Keywords

• Public land management
• Endowment land management
• Wildfire suppression services
• Timber sales management
• Navigable waterways regulation

Headquarters

HQ city

Boise

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Timber Sales: Revenue generated from the sale of timber from endowment trust lands, managed to maximize long-term financial returns to public schools and other beneficiaries
2. Real Estate Transactions: Revenue from sale of endowment lands, cottage sites, and other real estate activities on trust lands
3. Land Leasing: Leasing revenue from grazing, farming, minerals, commercial activities, energy, geothermal, mineral, oil and gas, and residential uses on endowment trust lands
4. Navigable Waterways Management: Revenue from submerged land easements and leases for the 61 navigable lakes and 32 navigable rivers held in trust for public benefit
5. Mining Administration: Fees and administration revenue from the Idaho Dredge & Placer Mining Protection Act, Mined Land Reclamation Act, and Abandoned Mine Reclamation Act
6. Fire Permits and Compliance Fees: Revenue from burn permits, compliance notifications, and fire management services
7. State Government Funding: Annual state government appropriation and budget allocation for agency operations

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Idaho Department of Lands is a state government agency that manages Idaho's endowment trust lands to generate long-term financial returns for public schools and other trust beneficiaries, while also serving as Idaho's wildfire protection authority. Its core offerings are public programs: Trust Land Management (timber sales, real estate transactions, leasing for grazing/farming/minerals/energy/commercial/residential use), the Fire Management Bureau (fire suppression and prevention across 9 million acres through 13 Forest Protective Districts), the Forestry Division (private landowner technical assistance and Forest Practices Act administration), the Mining and Minerals Program, the Navigable Waterways Program (61 lakes and 32 rivers), and supporting online services (compliance/notification, burn permits, encroachment permits, GIS mapping, wildfire alerts).

Product overview

Idaho Department of Lands is a government agency providing land management services rather than commercial products. The department offers a comprehensive portfolio of interconnected programs centered on trust land management for endowment beneficiaries (primarily public schools), fire management across 9 million acres, forestry assistance, mining administration, navigable waterways protection, and real estate/leasing services. Core offerings include Trust Land Management (timber sales, real estate, leasing), Fire Management Bureau (fire suppression, prevention, 13 Forest Protective Districts), Forestry Division (private landowner assistance, Forest Practices Act), and supporting programs including Navigable Waterways, Mining and Minerals, Grants, GIS mapping services, and compliance systems. The department operates 13 Forest Protective Districts and partners with 2 Timber Protective Associations for fire management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Trust Land Management Manages Idaho's endowment lands to generate long-term financial returns for public schools and other trust beneficiaries through timber sales, real estate transactions, and leasing for grazing, farming, minerals, and other uses.
• Fire Management Bureau Provides fire suppression and prevention services on more than 9 million acres of state, private, and federal land in Idaho, in partnership with Timber Protective Associations and rural volunteer fire departments, operating 13 Forest Protective Districts.
• Forestry Division Partners with private forest landowners and local communities to improve forest health, protect water quality, and support sustainable forest management through Private Forestry Specialists and administration of the Idaho Forest Practices Act.
• Mining and Minerals Program Administers the Idaho Dredge & Placer Mining Protection Act, Mined Land Reclamation Act, and Abandoned Mine Reclamation Act, and administers mineral leases and oil & gas leases on endowment trust lands.
• Navigable Waterways Program Protects public use of 61 navigable lakes and 32 navigable rivers in Idaho by managing submerged lands and issuing encroachment permits, submerged land easements, and leases.
• Leasing Services Comprehensive land leasing program covering commercial, energy, geothermal, grazing/farming, mineral, oil and gas, residential, and sage grouse leasing on endowment trust lands.
• Real Estate Services Handles real estate transactions involving endowment lands including cottage site sales, state land sales, right-of-way, investments and asset management, and Payette Endowment Land transactions.
• Endowment Timber Sales Manages timber sales on endowment trust lands to generate revenue for public schools and other beneficiaries.
• Forestry and Fire Grants Program Facilitates grant opportunities connecting partners with funding to mitigate wildfire risk, reduce hazardous fuels, and enhance forest resilience, including grants for Arbor Day, Landscape Scale Restoration, Rural Fire Capacity, and Hazardous Fuels Reductions.
• GIS Program - Idaho Maps and Land Records Provides GIS services, interactive maps, and land records for the department, including the Endowment Land Locator tool.
• Wildfire Alerts System Issues wildfire alerts for fires on protected lands via SMS text messaging and email. Alerts are typically issued for fires larger than 10 acres, threatening structures, or managed by an Incident Management Team.
• Rangeland Fire Protection Associations (RFPAs) Network of nonprofit volunteer firefighting organizations of local farmers, ranchers, and landowners that provide rapid initial attack of rangeland fires.
• Compliance/Notification System Online system for forest landowners, logging contractors, and forest operators to obtain Certificate of Compliance for conducting timber harvests using a mapping tool and worksheet.
• Encroachment Permit Database Online database for managing and tracking encroachment permits on Idaho's navigable waterways.
• Fire Training for Loggers and Industrial Foresters Provides fire training certifications for loggers and foresters to assist with wildfire management, including Industry Forester - Technical Specialist (THSP) certification (31.5 hours) and Equipment Operator (EQOP) certification (2.5 hours).

Quantifiable outcome

• 9 million acres of forests and rangelands protected from wildfire
• +1 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• U.S. Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partnership for forest management coordination. IDL actively works with the U.S. Forest Service to improve forest management through programs like Good Neighbor Authority. Currently evaluating a land exchange with USFS for Payette Lake Endowment Lands.
• Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protective Association (CPTPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTimber Protective Association providing fire suppression services in the Clearwater region. CPTPA maintains its own fire suppression capabilities and coordinates with IDL for wildfire management.
• Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association (SITPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTimber Protective Association operating in southern Idaho regions. Provides fire suppression and initial attack capabilities in coordination with IDL for protection of forests and rangelands.
• Idaho Fish and Game CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinates on the Habitat Improvement Program (HIP) which assists private landowners in creating or enhancing wildlife habitat for upland birds or waterfowl.
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministers the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) with IDL providing technical assistance on forestry-related practices including tree planting, thinning, and site-preparation.
• Farm Service Agency (FSA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministers the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) which helps landowners remove highly erodible cropland from production, with tree planting as an eligible activity.
• Governor's Office of Species ConservationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides grant funding to Rangeland Fire Protection Associations for purchase of fire tools, supplies, and PPE. Plays key role in sage grouse conservation efforts.
• Rangeland Fire Protection Associations (RFPAs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of 10 nonprofit volunteer firefighting organizations made up of local farmers, ranchers, and landowners. First RFPA formed in 2012. Provides rapid initial attack of rangeland fires using local knowledge.
• Rural Volunteer Fire DepartmentsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local volunteer fire departments supporting wildfire suppression efforts across protected lands.
• Idaho Oil & Gas Conservation CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeparate commission administering oil and gas operations on state and private lands in Idaho, coordinated with IDL leasing programs.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation: Montana's state land management agency administering trust lands, forest management, fire protection, and conservation programs for school trust beneficiaries. Closely analogous endowment and forestry mission.
• Oregon Department of State Lands: State agency administering Common School Fund trust lands, navigable waterways, and resource leasing in Oregon — directly comparable trust land and waterways mandate to IDL's endowment management.
• Washington Department of Natural Resources: Direct state-level peer managing trust lands for public beneficiaries, administering forest practices, wildfire suppression, and revenue-generating timber/lease programs in Washington. Structurally and functionally analogous to IDL.
• California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE): State agency responsible for forest management and fire protection across millions of acres of private, state, and federal land. Directly comparable fire management and forestry regulation role, though larger in scale.
• Wyoming State Forestry Division: State forestry agency providing wildfire protection, forest health assistance, and landowner support in Wyoming. Directly comparable in fire district operations and forestry assistance programs.

Emerging players

• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit working on conservation easements and public land conservation transactions. Comparable real-estate-adjacent conservation work relevant to IDL's endowment land disposition and protection activities.

Regional players

• Idaho Department of Fish and Game: Idaho state agency partnering with IDL on the Habitat Improvement Program and wildlife-related land management. Adjacent mission focused on wildlife rather than land/endowment revenue, but operationally intertwined on trust lands.

Broad incumbents

• Bureau of Land Management: Federal agency managing multiple-use public lands including timber, grazing, mining, and recreation. Comparable resource management portfolio at federal scale, with overlap in leasing and forest practices oversight.
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service: Federal agency administering EQIP and other cost-share programs that IDL delivers to private landowners. Core funding and program partner with overlapping forestry technical assistance footprint.
• U.S. Forest Service: Federal agency managing National Forests; key IDL partner through Good Neighbor Authority. Operates at broader scale across federal lands but with overlapping fire management and forestry responsibilities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IdahoLands
• Facebookfacebook.com/IdahoDepartmentofLands
• Instagraminstagram.com/idahodepartmentoflands
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/idaho-department-of-lands

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Idaho Department of Lands