Idaho Governor Unveils Series Of Water Conservation Projects

October 26, 2007 -- (EMMETT) – Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter today announced a milestone water conservation project at Black Canyon Dam and five additional efforts aimed at improving the efficiency of water use in southern Idaho.

“These projects will not solve the conflict between groundwater and surface water users, but they will help make water use and conservation efforts more effective,” Governor Otter said. “I hope they also will encourage others to develop and recommend similar projects for consideration as we continue seeking long-term solutions to our water challenges.”

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At Black Canyon Dam near Emmett, Governor Otter joined Idaho Department of Water Resources, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and other water officials in a ceremony launching the “Water 2025” project. It includes $300,000 from the federal agency, $100,000 from the state and $50,000 from the Black Canyon Irrigation District to replace eight miles of open canal with about 8,800 feet of pipeline. That will eliminate seepage and evaporation losses, eliminate the risk of canal failure and improve water delivery. The water saved then could be put to work to meet other needs.

Three of the additional projects involve collecting water already used for irrigation and fish habitat and pumping it back into Magic Valley springs so it can be reused in lieu of diverting additional spring water.

The Buckeye Ranch project includes three different pump-back systems. Some of the water saved will be added to Billingsley Creek to increase the flow and improve habitat there.

The Niagara Springs project will allow spring water now used for irrigation by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game to be used instead for fish production in the Rim View Hatchery. Effluent from the hatchery then will be pumped back to replace the Fish and Game irrigation water.

Alpheus Springs water will be used by the city of Twin Falls for drinking water rather than for irrigation at the Blue Lakes Country Club Golf Course and other grounds. Irrigation water for the golf course instead will be pumped from the Snake River.

The Crystal Springs project calls for building a spring water collection system enabling the Crystal Springs Hatchery to use water being spilled by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Magic Valley Hatchery. The Fish and Wildlife Service steelhead hatchery has a unique seasonal water demand for producing steelhead and at times cannot use all the water available to it.

Finally, the Governor proposed a pilot project in the Twin Falls-Thousands Springs area, over the Eastern Snake River Plain Aquifer, to allow groundwater pumpers the option of not turning on their wells – and instead fallowing their fields – in return for payments from the state. With funding from the Legislature, the proposed three-year project includes monitoring to determine the annual benefit to spring flows. Up to 20,000 acres could be involved, depending on how much funding is available.

Source: Idaho Governor