The mission of the idaho department of fish and game s fishery research program is to develop and effectively communicate scientifically sound information and tools to enhance the management of…

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game received a Formula Grant award of $1,080,911 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) under the Sport Fish Restoration program (CFDA 15.605) for the period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. This grant funds Idaho's Fishery Research Program, which develops and communicates scientifically sound information and tools to enhance the state's fisheries management. The program operates through a structured five-year prioritization process in which fish managers, biologists, and hatchery personnel collaborate to identify and rank research questions that address current sportfishing management needs across Idaho.

The grant supports four discrete research projects: Hatchery Trout, Wild Trout, Lake and Reservoir Projects, and Native Species Investigations (a genetics laboratory component), along with research supervision activities. Deliverables include question refinement, literature reviews, study design, field work execution, data analysis, and annual report preparation with internal peer review. Research findings are disseminated through peer-reviewed journal publications, press releases, and other media venues to ensure widespread communication of results to fisheries managers and stakeholders throughout the state.

The mission of the idaho department of fish and game s fishery research program is to develop and effectively communicate scientifically sound information and tools to enhance the management of idaho s fisheries. The purpose of this grant is to provide funding for idaho s fishery research program to achieve IT s mission by designing resident fish projects that inform and improve current and future fisheries management throughout the state. The program is driven by a 5-year prioritization process where idaho fish managers and their biologists, headquarters personnel, sport fish restoration research staff and interested hatchery personnel gather over a two day period to review sport fish restoration research work conducted the prior five years and to develop and rank research questions for the upcoming five years. The purpose of this forum is to ensure individual projects address current, substantive management questions intended to improve sportfishing in idaho. The program is currently divided into a research supervision element and four discrete projects entitled hatchery trout, wild trout, and lake and reservoir projects along with a genetics lab component entitled native species investigations. Field projects include question refinement, literature review study design field work data analysis and annual report preparation including internal peer review. Most findings are also published in refereed journals and are also disseminated in the press and other media venues as frequently as possible.