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Idaho Geologic Survey seeks to shore up database manager position as grant support wanes
Summary
The Idaho Geologic Survey asked for continued funding to convert a grant-funded database manager to a state-supported position, arguing the post is core to managing geologic datasets and allows the agency to leverage federal match funding. Director Claudio Berti described geologic mapping, core-data preservation and collaboration with industry.
Kevin Campbell presented the Idaho Geologic Survey (IGS) budget, and Director Claudio Berti described why IGS seeks additional general-fund support for a database manager position previously funded by grants. "This position has been historically grant funded," Berti said. "Having that supported on grants leaves it in a very precarious situation. It would be catastrophic for the survey to lose this position."
Campbell said IGS consistently spends its appropriations and that personnel accounted for 76.5% of 2024 expenses. He described recent capital purchases including research-grade microscopes and a seismometer for the Idaho Seismic Network. Berti told the committee the database manager helps maintain Idaho's geologic data systems and can generate a federal-match return: "This position is able to generate income by matching 2 to 1 on federal money," he said, adding that the position has been partly funded from abandoned mine lands funds administered by the Department of Lands and that continuity of those funds is not guaranteed.
Representative Price asked whether grant funding would continue; Berti said the position has been supported by grants but that securing a state-funded base would protect the agency's core capability and the federal matching potential. Representative Miller asked about the agency's interaction with private-sector exploration; Berti said IGS provides geologic mapping and public data used by industry but that the survey does not perform proprietary work for companies. "Our data is never proprietary. It has to be constant, all, available to the public," he said, and added that Idaho lacks a physical core repository and that creating one would preserve exploration data for future use.
Berti closed by emphasizing the survey's century-long role in supporting infrastructure, water, energy and mineral assessments and said IGS stretches appropriated dollars by bringing in external grants.
