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Idaho - Building Political Will

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To build partnerships with water user groups and state lawmakers, TU is developing local flow restoration and protection success stories throughout the state. TU is also fostering relationships with water user groups such as the Idaho Water Resource Board and the Idaho Water Users Association to protect stream flows. TU will advocate for further minimum flow protection on northern Idaho streams that are not over-appropriated. Further, TU will be working with the Idaho Water Resource Board to encourage use of the board's existing authority to accept water rights into the Idaho Water Supply Bank for fish and wildlife protection. Several potential pilot projects are currently in development that will demonstrate if and/or how the existing Water Bank can be used to protect and restore stream flows.

TU is also working to educate these influential groups by showing them successful flow restoration and protection projects in places where additional leasing tools are available to irrigators and landowners. Successful projects in the Lemhi River basin and in Montana illustrate that flow protection projects can protect fish habitat without injury to producers-and sometimes even benefit producers. The Lemhi River basin model for water leasing has proven to be successful at restoring flows while not injuring the local economy or senior water rights holders.

In May 2004, TU released a report titled Idaho Crossroads: The Challenge for Idaho's Rivers and Streams in the 21st Century. The report emphasized current limitations in Idaho water law and cited opportunities that could benefit both landowners and fisheries. State and federal agencies, lawmakers, and other conservation groups now use this as the lead document to illustrate the need for improving Idaho's water code.

Idaho Water Project Reports:

Idaho Crossroads, Part I

Idaho Crossroads, Part II

Upper Big Lost River: Finding opportunities to recover a fishery and restore a watershed

Bull Trout Recovery in the Little Lost Basin

Darlington Sinks