Idaho - Promote Habitat-Friendly Water Policy

ESPA and Treasure Valley CAMP

The State of Idaho is using Comprehensive Aquifer Management Plans as a tool to identify and manage water supplies in each of the state's aquifers. To date, the State has completed plans for the largest of the aquifers—the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer—and has launched studies in two other aquifers in the state. TU's Idaho Water Project sat on the ESPA CAMP committee and helped develop the plan, which includes a number of strategies to reduce the overall water budget on the ESPA by 300-600,000 acre feet, using demand reduction, aquifer recharge, and agricultural conversion from ground water to surface water.

A CAMP for the Treasure Valley Aquifer, which underlies the city of Boise and the Boise River, is currently underway, and the Idaho Water Project consults with TU's local Ted Trueblood Chapter, which is representing fisheries and natural resource interests on the TVCAMP.

Pocatello (Portneuf River)

In 2006, TU's Idaho Water Project worked with the City of Pocatello to pass a $9.5 million water revenue bond that dedicated $5 million to purchasing water rights in the Portneuf River. While the city's interest was to reduce water quality and effluent concerns, TU saw an opportunity to increase flows in a river that was once considered a blue ribbon trout stream. The bond passed with an overwhelming 73 percent approval. The City of Pocatello is working to secure water rights from Chesterfield Reservoir that could be delivered when the river is most at risk of being dewatered. 

To complement these water transactions, TU is working with nongovernmental organizations and natural resource agencies to restore the Portneuf River and its tributaries through numerous fencing, planting, restoration, and tributary reconnect projects.

Henry's Fork Special Study

After months of talks with state and federal leaders, TU successfully redirected a study on rebuilding Teton Dam into a larger, more progressive water study of the entire Henry's Fork basin.  TU hopes that the more comprehensive approach—and TU's active participation in the study—will result in smarter water management recommendations that protect the spectacular Teton Canyon, a stronghold for native Yellowstone cutthroat trout.  Additionally, TU is working with Teton Valley conservation groups and irrigators to convert farm practices that will result in significant water savings and increased stream flows in the basin.