Current Efforts

Over the years, Idaho, like all other states, has enacted statutes and created programs designed to prevent and manage a wide variety of invasive species. Often, these programs are administered in cooperation with various federal agency partners and range from monitoring plant pests to veterinary inspections for communicable animal diseases to tracking weed species, along with parallel efforts to control those unwanted species that do arrive in our state. The agencies involved in this important work include the Idaho Departments of Agriculture, Transportation, Fish and Game and Lands, along with the Federal Animal, Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), among others.

In addition, the University of Idaho’s colleges of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Cooperative Extension Service play important research and educational roles. Finally, local governments, industries and their associations, various interest groups and individuals work cooperatively in control and educational efforts, often coming together in successful efforts such as cooperative weed management areas and the Idaho Weed Awareness Campaign.

All told, current invasive species management in Idaho costs in excess of $10 million each year, in a mix of state funds, property tax assessments, industry fees and federal agency contributions.

A variety of programs and laws address the different classes of invasive species. These include:

  • Idaho is in the process of drafting an aquatic nuisance species plan. This plan is expected to be complete in 2007.
  • Idaho’s Noxious Weed Law addresses weed control on public and private lands and is administered by the Idaho Department of Agriculture (ISDA) and individual counties.
  • Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) authorities govern the importation, release, sale, possession and transportation of any species of exotic wildlife, along with similar authorities governing fish species.
  • ISDA authorities require weed free seeds, straw for revegetation projects, and livestock feed, and regulate the propagation of species not classed as “wildlife”.
  • Idaho’s Plant Pest Act provides broad authorities to inspect nursery and horticultural operations and to quarantine areas or articles that may spread plant pests or plant diseases.
  • Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) has authorities to manage and control forest pests.
  • The state or individual counties have the ability to take steps on private or state lands to suppress insect outbreaks or weeds or control unwanted animals.
  • Broad authorities have been given to the counties to quarantine or undertake other control mechanisms for a variety of invasive species.