Jeff Raybould, Idaho Water Resource Board

December 9,2014

Idaho Council on Industry & Environment

Statewide Trends for Water SupplyState Water Plan

Henrys Fork Watershead Council Annual Conference

Idaho Water Resource Board

Idaho Water Resource Board

•Established by Legislative in 1965 following Constitutional Amendment in 1964

•Idaho Constitution and statute directs Water Board to progressively formulate, adopt, and implement a comprehensive state water plan for conservation, development, management and optimum use of un-approporiated water resources and waterways of the state in the public interest

•State Legislature shall have the authority to amend or reject state water plan.

Idaho Water Resource BoardIn order to implement the State Water Plan, Article XV Section 7 of the Idaho Constitution and 42-1734 grants to the Board the authority:

•to construct and operate water projects; •to issue bonds to be repaid from revenues of projects; •to generate and wholesale hydroelectric power at the site of production; •to appropriate public waters as trustee for Agency projects; •to acquire, transfer and encumber title to real property for water projects and to have control and administrative authority over state lands required for water projects;

all under such laws as may be prescribed by the Legislature.

Idaho State Water Plan

First Plan: Objectives 1974

Policies 1976

Subsequent revisions

1982, 1986, 1992, 1996, 2012

Idaho State Water Plan

•November 2012 Adopted by the

Idaho Water Resource Board•Spring 2013

Became effective•Currently Being implemented

Idaho State Water PlanHighlights

Demonstrates to Federal Government and other states that Idaho has a plan for the use of Idaho’s water resources

Outlines state position on the use of Idaho’s water

Describes how Idaho will develop and manage the state’s water and related resources to achieve sustainable water supplies

Idaho State Water Plan

Sustainability is fundamental concept throughout State Water Plan

Language in policies and implementation actions are intended to achieve sustainability of water supplies

State Water Plan• Policy 1E: Conjunctive Management: Where a hydraulic connection exists between ground and surface waters, they should be conjunctively managed to maintain a sustainabile water supply.

•Policy 1K: CAMP (Narrative): Board will be responsible for implementing the CAMPs to obtain sustainable water supplies and provide for the optimum use of a region’s water resources.

•Policy 1L: surface Water Supply Enhancement: Surface water development will continue to play an important role in meeting Idaho’s future water needs.

State Water Plan

• Policy 3E: Water Resource Planning Program: Comprehensive water planning will help ensure sufficient water supplies to satisfy Idaho’s future water needs.

•Policy 4B: Snake River Milner Zero Minimum Flow (Implementation Strategies): Develop and maintain a reliable supply of water for existing uses and future beneficial uses above Milner Dam, and (2) Implement a sustainable aquifer recharge program.

State Water Plan

• Policy 4D: Conjunctive Management of the ESPA and Snake River: The ESPA and the Snake River below Milner Dam should be conjunctively management to provide a sustainable water supply for all existing and future beneficial uses within and downstream of the ESPA.

•Policy 4F: Snake River Basin Agriculture: Development of supplemental water supplies to sustain existing agriculture development is in the public interest. 

State Water Plan

A sustainable and reliable water supply is fundamental to Idaho's economic future and quality of life.

 

State Water Plan

 

•The challenge for water managers today is balancing competing needs, providing protection for property rights, and developing reliability and flexibility to ensure water is available to meet both present and future needs

•State Water Plan policies provide support and identify actions which will lead to reliability for water supplies to meet current and future demands and changing conditions

State Water Plan

 

•With ever increasing demands on our water supply we need to remember we only have the water that comes to us.

•Although conservation plays an important role in water management, it does not increase the supply

•The only way to acquire more water is through weather modification which increases precipitation

•To provide a sustainable water supply for current and future uses we must find ways to hold more of the annual water supply in the state - this can only be accomplished by storing the water in surface storage or in aquifers

State Water Plan

 

•Water is foundation of Idaho’s economy and culture; the lives and livelihoods of Idahoans depend on a reliable supply of water.

•Planning and management actions that promote water sustainability will provide certainty that existing water rights are protected and economic vitality of Idaho is optimized

•Policies and actions set out in the Idaho State Water Plan address a range of current and future water supply needs

•Implementation strategies are designed to meet multiple water supply management goal

•Inclusive process with stakeholders statewide is fundamental to meeting ever-increasing challenges associated with sustainable water management in Idaho

Egin Bench Managed Recharge Site

Questions?