1. The Treasure Valley
Population expected to increase from 625k in to 1.57 million in 2065
Households expected to increase by 280% - from 226,600 to 638,700
Average temperatures could increase by 1.9 to 6.1 degrees (increasing evapotranspiration by 5- 20%
Increase of 109,000 to 188,000 AF/year by 2065
The fasted growing area of the state
Population more than double in the next 50-years
Warmer temperatures expected
Increase of 109k to 188k af in next 50-years
Treasure Valley DCMI Water-Demand Projections (2015 – 2065) – SPF Water Engineering, 2016 (Terry Scanlan & Christian Petrich)

2. Elmore County Water-level declines of 100-200 feet since the 1960’s
Current decline of 5-feet per year in areas
Annual pumping deficits of 43,000 AF/year
West of Boise
Aquifer in steep decline
43,000 deficit / year and getting worse
Elmore County Water Supply Alternatives Study – SPF Water Engineering, 2017 (Terry Scanlan)

3. Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer
Anticipated population growth of 88,000 by 2045
Maximum daily demand will increase by cfs; and the peak hourly demand will increase by cfs by 2045
North Idaho: Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Hayden, Rathrum, etc.
Significant growth and expanded water needs into the future
Rathdrum Prairie Integrated Water Resource Management Report – Idaho Water Resource Research Institute, 2015 (Mark Solomon)

4. Palouse Aquifer (Idaho)
4,874 af/year increase in demand by 2065
2,256 af/year required to stabilize the aquifer
Moscow, Idaho and Pullman, Washington area
Aquifer needs stabilized – both Idaho and Washington communities are working to develop a plan to address water needs

5. Idaho Infrastructure Work Group

6. Meetings in D.C. Idaho needs to get on the same page!
Dr. Tim Petty, Assistant Secretary over Water & Science, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Don’t come to me with different, conflicting demands for federal partnership opportunities. Form a coalition.
Senator James Risch, Idaho (R)
Meetings in D.C.
We have seen time and time again that collaboration and coalition building leads to the highest opportunity for success
Idaho water users recognize need for infrastructure to address different issues throughout the State
BUT, different water users have their different “pet projects” and would advocate for those
Need to form a Coalition speaking with one voice

7. Idaho Water Infrastructure Work Group
Speaker of the House
Chairs of the House & Senate Resource Committees
Director, Idaho Department of Water Resources
3 Members (including chair) of Idaho Water Resource Board
Stakeholders from throughout Idaho

8. Original Purpose of Work Group
Develop opportunities for federal, state and private partnerships to fund new storage projects in Idaho.

9. Broadening the Scope
Realize the need for stakeholders to speak with one voice on other infrastructure-related issues throughout the state.
Not just about $$.
Coalition of diverse users have broader political influence to remove regulatory impediments to getting projects done.

10. Revised Purpose of Work Group
Develop and advocate for water supply projects in Idaho through federal, state and private funding partnerships and/or the removal of regulatory hurdles.

11. Funding & The Removal of Regulatory Hurdles

12. Federal Funding: WIIN Act
Creates fund managed by Reclamation for infrastructure projects
Streamlines processes
Up to 50% federal funding
Reclamation prioritizes projects based on several factors (including cost/benefit analysis)
List presented to Congress to identify in legislation (any legislation)
After 2019 Omnibus, over $300 million in WIIN Act fund
Federal Funding: WIIN Act
This is a great act!
Streamlines the processes to obtain approval and funding
Federal funding is based on federal benefit received from a project

13. Federal Funding: WaterSMART
Smaller projects
Broad range of grants
Up to 50% cost-share
Types:
Water and Energy Efficiency Grants
Small-Scale Water Efficiency Project Grants
Cooperative Watershed Management Program
Drought Program
Federal Funding: WaterSMART

14. State Contributions
Working with Governor’s office and Legislature to create a fund
State partnership on large and small projects
Incremental development (long- term savings plan)
Working to create a fund and an avenue for state partnerships on projects

15. Regulatory Hurdles Title Transfer Greater flexibility with facilities
Access to prime recharge locations
Recharge over Federal Lands
Better management of water resources
Flood Control Rule Curves
Regulatory Hurdles
Title transfer allow for greater flexibility in operation of system – i.e. ability recharge through system
In Idaho, some of the best recharge locations are on federal land – authorization processes can be quite cumbersome. Working to streamline authority to recharge on federal land through legislation, including the Reclamation Title
Revise flood control curves may allow for better management of water resources.

16. Developing a List

17. List Categories New / Enlarged Surface Storage
Re-Purpose of Existing Surface Storage
ESPA Managed Recharge Projects
Ground Water Sustainability Projects
Small, multi-purpose projects

18. Anderson Ranch Dam Approved for WIIN Act funding
Feasibility / NEPA done by early 2021
Construction begin in 2021
28,000 a/f increase
Approx. $40m
For new / enlarged storage, we prioritized our list.
Anderson Ranch was 1st priority due to WIIN Act funding

19. Island Park Reservoir Eastern Idaho 12,000-30,000 a/f increase
Inexpensive to construct (bladder)
Expensive to mitigate (easements)

20. Minidoka Dam South-central Idaho $250m total cost 50,000 a/f increase
Mitigation: freeway & wildlife refuge
About 1 mile of freeway would have to be raised

21. Other Storage Projects
Galloway Dam (800,000 a/f)
Weiser River
Lost Valley Dam Raise (10,000-30,000 a/f increase)
Weiser River Basin headwaters
Caribou Dam (40,000 a/f)
Bear River
Each of these have been on Idaho’s radar for many years
Have not advanced for many reasons – environmental being the priority reason

22. Re-Purpose Existing Storage
Ririe Reservoir
Relaxing flood control rule curves
Bear Lake
Reduce fall drawdown
Maximize storage
Bear Lake: Power company draws lake down in fall. Working to acquire water rights and authorizations necessary to minimize drawdown

23. Recharge Projects Roberts Pipeline
$108m
Deliver water from Snake River to Mud Lake area for recharge
Prosperity Canal (aka “Canal to Nowhere”)
Large managed recharge facility
Deliver water into desert for recharge
Longer retention time

24. Sustainability Projects
Mountain Home (Elmore County)
Pipeline from Snake River to Air Force Base
$70m
Palouse Basin / Moscow, ID
Pump water to basin to satisfy existing and future needs
Working on concepts / plans

25. Small Multi-Purpose Projects
In-canal projects with multiple purposes
Regulating reservoirs;
Water quality;
Sediment control;
Flood control
Usually less than $1,500,000