IOGA News

As part of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) relicensing of the Hells Canyon Project, staff have released a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, detailing the measures that FERC will include in the final license, to be issued in the next year. That license directly affects river flows and recreational navigation on the Snake River downstream of Hells Canyon Dam for the next 50 years. Because of the value of Hells Canyon as a recreational and economic resource to Idaho, and the long term commitments of the license, it is imperative that the whitewater community, outfitter...

Idaho Outfitters and Guides Take Salmon and Steelhead Advocacy to Washington, D.C. From left to right: Mark Martin, Roy Akins, Dustin Aherin, Congressman Mike Simpson, Jack Hurty, and Lauren McCullough Last week, I had the honor of leading a group of Idaho outfitters and guides to Washington, D.C. to advocate for salmon and steelhead recovery and the rural businesses and communities that depend on healthy, fishable rivers. We arrived on Monday, January 12, and spent three full days meeting with members of Congress and their staff. We met in person with Idaho’s entire congressional delega...

Idaho is a public-lands state. Our famed landscapes – the Sawtooths, the Owyhees, the Selkirks – are the foundation of our quality of life, economy, and culture. Places like the Frank Church and the Middle Fork of the Salmon represent the pinnacle of the Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers systems. However, while these places are worth protecting and fighting for, that doesn't mean they are without their challenges. One such challenges is the effect that large swaths of public lands have on the budgets of local governments and counties. Because it’s owned by the American people and man...

  Jack and Erik break down the results of the survey.  Summary in Brief:  Health insurance isn’t just a personal issue for Idaho’s guides and outfitters — it’s a business one. The rising cost of health insurance coverage threatens the stability of small operations, seasonal workers, and the rural hospitals that serve them. Over the last few weeks, the team here at IOGA surveyed more than 80 outfitters, guides, and small business owners across Idaho about healthcare access. The results are informative – nearly 1 in 5 are uninsured—more than double the state average—and most rely on Afford...

Outfitters, here is what you need to know about operating during a government closure.

Idaho Hunting guides, it's important to know the rules of surroundings states when it comes to wild game so you make sure you send your clients home with meat that is legal in their state.

Quick Take: In May 2024, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) finalized the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule, commonly known as the "Public Lands Rule", to clarify conservation as part of “multiple use,” standardize a land-health framework, and create new restoration/mitigation leasing tools. On September 11, 2025, BLM proposed to rescind the rule in full, arguing it is unnecessary, constrains agency flexibility, redefines “use,” and could increase litigation and delay. While we understand some of these concerns, IOGA sees value in many of the provisions and principles of the rule, and su...

IOGA is looking for art designed by guides to put on IOGA shirts at the annual meeting

Bottom line: Starting September 2, 2025, BLM can use 65 newly adopted NEPA categorical exclusions (CXs)—borrowed from other federal agencies—to approve many routine, low-impact actions without a full EA/EIS. That can mean faster decisions and less paperwork for common on-the-ground needs…as long as no “extraordinary circumstances” (e.g., ESA species, cultural sites, wilderness/W&S rivers) are triggered. Where this could help you Special Recreation Permits (SRPs) & renewals (no new construction): Routine renewals or minor modifications may be cleared with a CX. Good for commercial use...

The Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association (IOGA) is excited to announce a new chapter in its leadership. Longtime board member and industry advocate Erik Weiseth has stepped into the role of Executive Director, following the departure of Aaron Lieberman, who now takes the reins at America Outdoors Association.

The federal government's recent withdrawal from the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement (RCBA) and its termination of the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) have serious implications for Idaho outfitters and guides, whose livelihoods depend on vibrant salmon and steelhead populations. A Retreat from Collaboration The RCBA was a landmark agreement established in 2023 among federal agencies, Pacific Northwest states, tribes, and conservation groups to address longstanding litigation over hydroelectric dams and coordinate over $1 billion in funding to restore fish passage, habitat,...

Strong mountain snowpack expected to provide exciting, long whitewater season on Idaho rivers with big waves and rapids.