Idaho Adventure News

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[caption id="attachment_291" align="aligncenter" width="1733"] Snowpack in the Main Salmon drainage was 94% of normal on Feb. 20 - great news for the 2015 rafting season![/caption] IOGA press release Feb. 20, 2015 BOISE, Idaho -- While parts of the American West are suffering from a lack of snow, Idaho mountain snowpack levels are ranging from 75 to 94 percent of normal in Central Idaho, home of the nationally popular Salmon, Lochsa and Payette rivers. "We look to our neighbors, and we look pretty good," says Ron Abramovich, water supply specialist for the Natural Resources Conservation Serv...

February 2015 News - Lobby Day is Feb. 18th

[caption id="attachment_276" align="alignright" width="620"] Playing in the Sawtooth Mountains in Central Idaho (Courtesy Idaho Statesman)[/caption] By Steve Stuebner American travel and tourism trends show that Idaho is growing in popularity as a primo destination for outdoorsy visitors, and contrary to national trends, people are staying longer on overnight trips to enjoy quality outdoor-adventure activities. Visitors are twice as likely to come to Idaho to engage in outdoor activities, compared to national norms, where folks may travel to go shopping or visit friends and relatives. And ...

IOGA Annual Meeting is Thursday & Friday, December 11 & 12 The IOGA Annual meeting will be on Thursday & Friday, December 11th & 12th at the Red Lion Downtowner. For a complete agenda, click here. The IOGA room rate of $67 per night for up to 4 people per room has been extended through this Sunday, November 23rd. To make reservations, call 208.344.7691 and ask for the front desk. Be sure to tell them you are with IOGA. River Manager Reports - Thursday, Dec. 11th - 10:30 a.m. Agency River Managers will review the past season and what's on the horizon. Member Bash & Reception with Exhibitors -...

I would like to focus on two main topics this month with the first being a request that all of you consider coming to this year’s annual meeting. We have been working very hard to put together a program that should be worthwhile as well as fun. We have added a couple of new events one being a “Members Bash” on Thursday night that will allow our members a casual relaxed opportunity to catch up. This event will have food, beverage, and entertainment.  We have also added our “Guides Of The Year” program and awards, this acknowledgment of those who work so hard to do a great job not only in the gu...

Well it is the end of October and for most of the river outfitters the boats are cleaned and rolled up.  For the land based guys their mules are up to their bellies in either snow or mud. And everyone is anxious for the annual IOGA meeting in Boise in early December. I am writing this message from our base camp at Paradise in the Selway.  This is a historic camp and has been here for about 60 years.  Oh by the way that is how long IOGA has existed.  We will be celebrating the 60th anniversary at this year’s meeting.   The Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association was the first outfitters associ...

Like any organization, IOGA’s well being and effectiveness heavily depends on the quality and the willingness of its leadership. IOGA continues to benefit from those folks who step forward from the ranks to fill leadership positions. In fact, quality leadership is essential. I would encourage every member to consider stepping up and throwing your “hat in the ring” for any vacant positions. There is an opportunity annually at our winter conference for future leaders to appear on the ballot and become involved at a greater level. The “nuts and bolts” of this process are included elsewhere in th...

Upwards of 90% of Idaho’s special use permitted outfitters operate on lands managed by USFS and BLM. Critical ingredients regarding the future of outfitting on these public lands is currently the focus of H.R. 5204, the Modernization of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. We need more letters to Congress supporting this legislation as votes on popvox.com are running 6 to 1 against the bill. H.R. 5204 reauthorizes the Forest Service, USFWS and BLM permitting authority for five years, limits permit fees to 3% of gross or an equivalent flat fee and provides for greater accountabil...

Executive Director’s Report by John May IOGA Members, As you can see with the amount of information coming out of the IOGA office, the staff has hit the ground running in 2015. The need to send this month’s Government Affairs report as a separate FYI lets you know that the Legislature is back in session and that Grant Simonds, our Government Affairs Liaison, along with our Lobbyists, Jeremy Pisca and Tyler Mallard, are focused on monitoring anything that might effect our industry. Speaking of the legislature, preparation is well underway for our bi-annual Lobby Day event on February 18th her...