Geoscience in Your State: Idaho

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Cover of Geoscience Policy State Factsheet. Image credit: AGI

By the numbers: Idaho

  • 2,749 geoscience employees (excludes self-employed)1
  • 5.35 billion gallons/day: total groundwater withdrawal3
  • $191 million: value of nonfuel mineral production in 20174
  • 40 total disaster declarations, including 16 fire, 12 flood, and 7 severe storm disasters (1953-2017)⁶
  • $2.35 million: NSF GEO grants awarded in 201714
  • ...

Agencies Working on Geoscience Issues in idaho

Idaho Bureau of Laboratories

The role of IBL is to provide laboratory services to support the programs within the Department of Health and Welfare, Idaho's seven public health districts, other state agencies, and citizens.

Idaho Department of Environmental Quality

The mission of the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality is to protect human health and the quality of Idaho's air, land, and water. DEQ manages a broad range of activities, including assessment of environmental problems; oversight of facilities that generate air, water, and hazardous waste pollution; monitoring of air and water quality; cleanup of contaminated sites; and education, outreach, and technical assistance to businesses, local government agencies, and interested citizens.

Idaho Department of Lands

The mission of the Idaho Department of Lands is to professionally and prudently manage Idaho's endowment assets to maximize long-term financial returns to public schools and other trust beneficiaries and to provide professional assistance to the citizens of Idaho to use, protect and sustain their natural resources. Among other responsibilities, the IDL manages the land beneath Idaho's navigable waterways, provides some regulation of Idaho's mining industry, provides regulatory oversight of forestry practices, provides fire protection and prevention on more than 6 million acres of land, and houses the Oil and Gas Division (the administrative arm of the Idaho Oil and Gas Conservation Commission).

Idaho Department of Water Resources

The mission of the Idaho Department of Water Resources is to serve the citizens of Idaho by ensuring that water is conserved and available for the sustainability of Idaho’s economy, ecosystems, and resulting quality of life.

Idaho Geological Survey

The Idaho Geological Survey is a public service and research agency at the University of Idaho. Idaho statute directs the Survey to collect, interpret, and disseminate geologic and mineral data for the state.

Idaho Office of Emergency Management

The mission of the Idaho Office of Emergency Management is to guide the State of Idaho in effectively preparing for, protecting against, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all hazards.

Idaho Oil and Gas Conservation Commission

The Idaho Oil and Gas Conservation Commission regulates the exploration, drilling and production of oil and gas resources to ensure the conservation of oil and gas and the protection of correlative rights and surface and groundwater.

Idaho Soil and Water Conservation Commission

The Idaho Soil and Water Conservation Commission provides support to conservation districts; provides conservation incentive programs; and offers comprehensive conservation services and programs.

Case Studies & Factsheets

Cover of AGI Factsheet 2018-004 - Present Day Climate Change

Climate Science 101 Climate is the average of weather conditions over several decades.1,2 Geoscientists monitor modern climate conditions (1880 A.D. to present) in part by taking direct measurements of weather data (i.e., air temperature, rainfall and snowfall, wind speed, cloudiness, and so on)...

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Fresh water from underground Groundwater is any water found underground in the cracks and pores in soil, sand, or rock. Groundwater provides 25% of the fresh water used in the United States.1 It is particularly important for irrigation and domestic uses in arid or remote areas, where surface water...

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Introduction Dry wells improve stormwater drainage and aquifer recharge by providing a fast, direct route for rainwater to drain deep into underlying sediment and rock. Dry wells are most common in the western U.S. where clay or caliche layers slow down the natural drainage of water into underlying...

Cover of AGI Factsheet 2018-002-Geologic Mapping and Public Health

Using Geologic Maps to Protect Public Health Geologic maps can be used to understand and mitigate public health risks across the US, in addition to their more traditional use in resource and infrastructure decisions. Geologic maps can show the location of naturally occurring hazardous materials and...

Cover of Geoscience Policy State Factsheet. Image credit: AGI

By the numbers: Idaho 2,749 geoscience employees (excludes self-employed)1 5.35 billion gallons/day: total groundwater withdrawal3 $191 million: value of nonfuel mineral production in 20174 40 total disaster declarations, including 16 fire, 12 flood, and 7 severe storm disasters (1953-2017)⁶ $2...