History of Idaho’s Endowment Lands
When Idaho became a state, Congress granted Idaho endowment trust land for the sole purpose of funding specified beneficiaries, which are largely public schools.
The five-member Land Board, which includes the Governor, is responsible for managing the endowment lands to secure “the maximum long term financial return” for the beneficiaries - public schools. The Idaho Department of Lands (IDL), under the guidance of the Land Board, manages about 2.5 million acres of endowment land statewide. The endowment lands' current annual contribution to the Idaho Education budget is about 2%.
Many western states have found the challenges of the 21st century justification for reevaluating how we manage endowment lands. Other states, like Montana, have reformed the management of trust lands to include considerations for conservation, sound stewardship, open space, wildlife habitat, and clean water.
Payette Endowment Land Strategy (PELS)
In March 2021, the Land Board approved the Payette Endowment Lands Strategy (PELS). This 20-year plan divides 5,500 acres of endowment lands surrounding the Payette lakes into parcels (labeled with letters on map) for possible “transition'' from timberland to residential.
The Payette endowment lands (shown in purple) nearly encircle the lake. The buffer of undeveloped land is crucial as a filtration and cooling system for the health of the entire watershed. This halo of land has served as a background for McCall for over 100 years, providing scenic views, rejuvenation, and recreation for all Idahoans. The lands also provide access to the surrounding National Forest. Privatizing these lands would forever change how we experience McCall.
United Payette has developed a conservation-based plan that satisfies the PELS. The coalition is working with a large group of stakeholders to implement community-driven strategies to conserve the Payette endowment lands for future generations while supporting the Land Board’s fulfillment of its constitutional duty.
