WHEREAS, over 2 million acres of private, county, state and federal land burned in Idaho during the 2007 fire season; and

        WHEREAS, there is a tremendous threat to the sagebrush steppe ecosystem and other landscapes from invasive plant species and noxious weeds, including cheat grass, in the aftermath of these wildfires across Idaho; and

        WHEREAS, there is a need to coordinate rehabilitation efforts among private landowners, local governments, state and federal agencies in the wake of these wildfires to recover our private and public lands; and

        WHEREAS, cooperation among the private and public sectors will help efficiently and effectively rehabilitate the lands we all use; and

        WHEREAS, the loss of vegetation necessary to intercept and retain normal precipitation will significantly increase the danger of mudflows, erosion and flooding in burned areas and areas below or downstream of burned areas, which in turn can cause the loss of top soil resulting in negative, long-term impacts; and

        WHEREAS, the State of Idaho should lead a statewide rehabilitation effort for areas impacted by wildfire this year, coordinating private, local and federal efforts;

        NOW, THEREFORE, I, C.L. “BUTCH” OTTER, Governor of the State of Idaho, by the authority vested in me under the Constitution and laws of the State of Idaho do hereby order:

1. The establishment of the “Statewide Wildfire Rehabilitation Committee” (Committee).

2. The Committee shall consist of the following representatives (or their designees) who shall serve at the
    pleasure of the Governor:
    a. Director of the Idaho Department of Agriculture;
    b. Director of the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality;
    c. Director of Idaho Fish and Game;
    d. Director of the Idaho Department of Lands;
    e. Director of the Idaho State Police;
    f. Administrator of the Governor’s Office of Species Conservation;
    g. Director of the Idaho Department of Water Resources; and
    h. Director of the Idaho Department of Transportation.

3. Additionally the Governor may appoint representatives to the Committee, who will serve at the pleasure
    of the Governor, from the following:
    a. Developed outdoor recreation, off highway vehicle users, or commercial recreation activities;
    b. Federal grazing permitees, or other land-use permitees within areas impacted by wildfire;
    c. Nationally recognized conservation organizations;
    d. Regionally or locally recognized conservation organizations;
    e. The timber industry;
    f. County or local elected officials; or
    g. American Indian tribes within or adjacent to the area impacted by wildfire.

4. The Chair of the Committee shall be appointed by the Governor from the membership of the
    Committee. The Chair serves at the pleasure of the Governor.

5. The Committee shall:
    a. Coordinate with all private, local and federal rehabilitation efforts;
    b. Cooperate with local and federal agencies in developing a long-term strategy for recovering areas
        burned or directly impacted by wildfire this year;
    c. Coordinate and cooperate with surrounding states, including but not limited to Nevada, Utah and
        Wyoming, on wildfire prevention and suppression as well as rehabilitation efforts;
    d. Work with appropriate local and federal agencies to identify available state or federal land or
        alternative feed sources for livestock permittees in Idaho displaced by wildfire;
    e. Develop a long-term monitoring strategy to evaluate rehabilitation efforts in areas impacted by
        wildfire this year;
    f. Evaluate ways to reduce or prevent areas of continuous fine fuel on private and public land, including
       but not limited to “green strips”;
    g. Coordinate with federal and county officials to protect recently reseeded private and public lands by
        closing public lands if necessary to prevent disturbance of these areas, as well as, identifying
        alternative public land for recreation. This includes, but is not limited to, utilizing state employees
        who are Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certified, to enforce and coordinate closures,
        educate the public about alternative recreational opportunities and aid local or federal entities with
        closures on county or federal land;
    h. Seek federal and private funding for State rehabilitation projects; and
     i. Evaluate and implement projects to restore areas impacted by wildfire this season for wildlife, aquatic
        species and plants, including but not limited to, rare and declining, petitioned or listed species.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho in Boise on this 2nd day of October in the year of our Lord two thousand and seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred thirty-second and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred eighteenth.

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE