Managing Endowments in Environmental Context

Tuesday, July 15, 2008
8:30 am - 10:00 am, Peregrines Room

This panel discussion on Managing Endowments in Environmental Context will be broken into three sections, with each presenter speaking for 20 minutes. Following their presentations, the moderator will open the floor to questions for 30 minutes.


ESA perspective: Co-Mingled Management & Habitat Conservation Agreements

Michael Bogert
Counselor to the Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior

Michael BogertMichael Bogert was appointed Counselor to Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne by President Bush on July 10, 2006. He is responsible for coordinating law and policy for the Secretary in the areas of natural resources and Tribal water rights, among other areas.

Mr. Bogert previously served as Regional Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 10 office in Seattle, a position he was appointed to by the President in 2005. He was responsible for leading EPA’s partnerships with the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska, as well as the 271 Federally-recognized Tribes in the Region.

Mr. Bogert also served as the principal legal advisor to Governor Dirk Kempthorne of Idaho for over five years (1999-2004). In that capacity, he advised the executive office and agencies on legal implications of state policy and legislation, with an emphasis on environmental issues and matters within the jurisdiction of the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and the Idaho Department of Water Resources. Mr. Bogert has also worked as Counsel to the Office of Governor-Elect Arnold Schwarzenegger of California (2003), and was Chief Deputy Legal Affairs Secretary to Governor Pete Wilson of California (1995-1998). He was also in private law practice with the Boise Office of Perkins Coie, LLP (2004-2005).

Mr. Bogert attended The George Washington University, L.L.M. Program, Environmental Law, 1994-1995, and received degrees from the University of Idaho College of Law, J.D., 1985, and the University of Santa Clara, B.A. (History), 1979. He resides with his wife and two children in Northern Virginia.


SRBA: Snake River Basin Adjudication

Clive Strong
Natural Resources Division Chief, Idaho Office of Attorney General

Clive StrongClive J. Strong is Chief of the Natural Resources Division for the Office of the Idaho Attorney General. Mr. Strong works exclusively in the areas of environmental, natural resources and Indian Law. He is the attorney for the Idaho Board of Land Commissioners and supervises legal representation for the Idaho Department of Lands.

In 1996, Mr. Strong was appointed as an Ex-Officio member of the Governor Phil Batt’s Committee on Endowment Fund Investment Reform, and in 2005 he was appointed by Governor Dirk Kempthorne to the Endowment Fund Review Task Force. Mr. Strong has been the principal legal advisor to the Idaho Department of Lands with regard to implementation of recommendations from the two task forces.

Mr. Strong earned his LL.M. in 1983 from the University of Michigan, his J.D. in 1977 from the University of Idaho and his B.S. in Forestry in 1974 from the University of Idaho. He is admitted to the Idaho and Washington State Bars. He is also admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and several Federal District Courts and Circuit Courts of Appeal. Mr. Strong argued the United States v. Idaho, 508 U.S. 1 (1993) and Idaho v. Coeur d’ Alene Tribe of Idaho, 521 U.S. 261 (1997) cases before the United States Supreme Court.

Mr. Strong has lectured extensively on legal topics related to natural resources, management of state endowment lands and federalism issues.


Climate Accelerated Growth of Vegetation, Pests & Fire: The Perfect Storm

Jeff Fidgen
Forest Health Program Manager, Idaho Dept. of Lands

Jeff FidgenJeff is the Forest Health Program Manager with Idaho Department of Lands. He is responsible for overseeing insect and disease related technical assistance, education and cost-share programs on Idaho’s state and private forest lands. Jeff holds a Bachelors and Masters of Science in Forestry (emphasis on forest entomology) from the University of New Brunswick in eastern Canada. He enjoys working with industrial and research partners to develop novel treatment technologies for insect pests of trees. Since joining IDL in 2006, he has been evaluating research on the impact of climate change to forests, insects and diseases of the Pacific Northwest. Jeff lives with his family in Post Falls, ID, where he and his two sons enjoy outdoor recreation.