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Created in 1939, the Idaho Soil Conservation Commission (ISCC) provides support and service to Idaho’s Conservation Districts in the wise use and enhancement of soil, water, and related resources. The ISCC consists of five members appointed by Idaho’s governor to staggered five-year terms. Three non-voting advisors have authorization to serve at the invitation of the ISCC: the state conservationist with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, the president of the Idaho Association of Soil Conservation Districts, and the dean of the College of Agriculture, University of Idaho. The ISCC administrator manages the 24-member staff responsible for programs and water quality efforts in agriculture and grazing, conservation program delivery, and conservation district needs. Over 20,000 farmers, ranchers and landowners receive assistance through districts. Most staff work through a Conservation District in the field providing technical assistance directly to Idaho landowners and assisting with projects within public/private, local, state, and federal entities.
Beginning July 1, 2005, the ISCC was legislatively mandated to implement the state’s responsibilities in this USDA program. The primary goal of CREP is to develop and implement Idaho’s land use and conservation component to conserve water in the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer (ESPA) by providing technical support in determining eligibility and enrollment; assisting landowners/users in implementing BMPs; and developing local groundwater management plans. The goal is to reduce water demand by 200,000 acre feet annually. Water Quality Program for Agriculture (WQPA) The WQPA was created to protect and enhance the quality and value of Idaho’s waters by controlling and abating water pollution from agricultural nonpoint sources. This program provides cost-share assistance to entities implementing water quality projects. The commission selects projects for funding, evaluates program effectiveness in reducing agricultural nonpoint source pollution, provides technical assistance, and supports conservation districts in further planning and implementation. The Resource Conservation and Rangeland Development Program (RCRDP) provides long-term, low-interest loans to farmers and ranchers for conservation improvements. Loans are available up to $125,000 for terms of up to 15 years. Projects should address environmental issues, including (but not limited to) the following items: soil and water resource conservation; efficient and beneficial use of water resources; riparian area improvement; fish and wildlife habitat restoration and preservation; and the increased agricultural productivity of croplands, pasture and hayland, rangeland, and woodland. The State Revolving Fund (SRF), like RCRDP, provides long-term, low-interest loans for conservation improvements on private and public lands. What makes SRF different is that no pre-set limit has been placed on amounts borrowed. Another important difference is the ranking system employed to determine project priority. The following list (in order of importance) is used when prioritizing potential projects: public health emergency or public health hazard; watershed restoration; and watershed protection. Conservation Improvement Grants. Monetary grants are available through the WQPA. Grants may be awarded for improvements to water quality and soil conservation, and to demonstrate new or innovative conservation improvement practices/systems for rangeland and riparian areas. This program provides grants up to $10,000 to individuals, partnerships, trusts, estates, private corporations or other legal entities. Qualifying practices must be implemented on public or private land identified as part of a project plan in Idaho. Grant monies must be matched by the recipient in cash, materials, labor, or use of equipment for the installation of practices. Grants are awarded based on rank according to set priorities and may be awarded as part of a RCRDP low-interest loan. For more information about availability of grant monies or eligibility, visit your local Conservation District, or find s on the web at www.scc.idaho.gov. The Idaho Agricultural Pollution Abatement Plan (Ag Plan ) is a dynamic guidance document that outlines the strategy for the abatement of agricultural nonpoint source pollution as it relates to water quality in Idaho. The Ag Plan was created to address water quality issues of water bodies impacted by agricultural nonpoint source pollutants. Upper Salmon Basin Watershed Project (USBWP) In 1992, the USBWP was established to restore and protect the habitats of anadromous and resident fish and to achieve a balance between resource protection efforts and beneficial use activities. The USBWP encompasses the Salmon River and all of its tributaries, from the mouth of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River to the headwaters near Stanley, Idaho. The project has a combined drainage area of over 4 million acres. The USBWP works to implement a variety of habitat restoration projects, including installation of riparian fencing, pasture management programs, irrigation efficiency improvements, diversion structure modifications, and ditch consolidation or elimination. Fencing projects have helped to stabilize stream banks and promote the growth of riparian vegetation, allowing reduced sediments in spawning gravels and shade for the stream. Improvements to irrigation systems yield more efficient water use throughout the basin, which leaves more water in streams, provides more spawning and rearing habitat, and reduces passage barriers. Recent Achievements:
Future Goals
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Programs - Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) 
Carbon Sequestration. The ISCC has been actively working on putting together the framework for a carbon market for the State of Idaho. The carbon sequestration forestry sub-committee met early this summer to start planning a strategy for coming up with the necessary framework for adopting a carbon market for Idaho. The intent was to utilize the existing National Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program, established by Section 1605 (b) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 and build on that. Our committee feels strongly about making sure Idaho recognizes agriculture and forestry as resources for carbon sequestration. We still have to meet with the agricultural and bio-mass sub-committees to gather their perspective on what needs to be included in this framework. This framework, when completed, will be presented to the Idaho legislature at their next legislative session in 2007 with a recommendation for an Idaho Carbon Market adoption. The ISCC is working closely with the National Carbon Offset Coalition (NCOC) and the Big Sky Carbon Sequestration Regional Partnership (BSCSRP) to help develop national technical standards for agricultural and forestry trades. We are also seeking to develop two regional pilot trades for agriculture and forestry in Idaho in the near future.