Soil and Water Conservation Commission reports fiscal-year activity, funding and program demand to Senate committee

Delwyn Trefts, administrator of the Idaho State Soil and Water Conservation Commission, presented the agency’s fiscal year 2024 annual and performance report to the Senate Agricultural Committee and described the commission’s role supporting Idaho’s 50 local conservation districts.

Trefts said the commission’s mission is to assist conservation districts and private landowners with voluntary, nonregulatory conservation projects and that the agency operates four core functions: district support and services, nonregulatory conservation programs, fiscal administration and outreach. He said revenue sources for fiscal 2024 included the state general fund, trustee and benefit receipts and the RCRDP (Resource Conservation and Rangeland Development Program) loan fund. Trefts reported roughly $3.95 million in annual revenues and about $7.9 million in expenditures for FY24, which included personnel, operating costs, trustee and benefit payments, and RCRDP loan disbursements.

On program delivery, Trefts said commission staff provided technical support to approximately 49,705 acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). The RCRDP loan program assisted with projects on about 8,221 privately owned acres. Commission staff tracked implementation of best-management practices across roughly 63,075 acres. Trefts also said two total maximum daily load (TMDL) implementation plans were completed during FY24 for watersheds where EPA had approved new TMDLs.

Trefts highlighted the state water-quality cost-share program discussed in testimony as “WACPA” (presenter's term) and said demand has far exceeded available funds after the program’s recent reinvigoration with state appropriations. He said $10 million was appropriated during the 2022–2024 period; districts submitted project proposals requesting roughly $20.2 million, and state funds were combined with other monies to support projects with substantially larger total costs. For FY24, Trefts said $5 million in state funds were appropriated; 80 project proposals were submitted and 50 projects were selected for funding, producing an estimated $17.7 million in combined conservation investment for every state dollar invested.

Trefts acknowledged data gaps requested by committee members: Senator Cole asked whether the commission had tracked the total volume of water conserved through WACPA projects, and Trefts said staff have not tracked conservation volume year-to-year but CREP staff are compiling those numbers and the commission expects to report them next year. Trefts said staffing levels are thin across large geographies and that hiring and retaining qualified personnel — including engineers — remains a challenge tied to funding.

Devin Fielding, representing the Idaho Association of Soil Conservation Districts, told the committee districts pursue youth education and producer-support projects, and he emphasized the locally led, nonregulatory nature of district work. Fielding described district involvement with WACPA projects, youth programs such as Envirothon and FFA partnerships, and the need to communicate district roles more widely so communities understand the services districts provide.

Committee members asked questions about the commission’s biggest benefits to taxpayers, program tracking and the administrator’s announced retirement; members thanked Trefts for his service. No committee votes were held on the report.