Flow Augmentation In The Upper Snake River Subbasin To Benefit Anadromous, Resident Fish and Wildlif

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Flow Augmentation In The Upper Snake River
Subbasin To Benefit Anadromous, Resident Fish and
Wildlife
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Upper Snake River Basin Water Users

• Five Member Board
• South-Central Idaho Farmers
• Representing Farmers Interested in Leasing water
  to benefit Fish Wildlife

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Project Description

• Water leasing for flow augmentation
• Upper Snake Water Users to lease out water
• At fair market price for lease water
• Instead of farming
• Benefit Fish Wildlife

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Project Supports Regional Requirements

• NMFS 2001 Biological Opinion
• 427 Acre Feet from Upper Snake River Basin
• NMFS 2000 FCRPS Biological Opinion
• Action 149 address flow problems
• Action 151 increase tributary flows
• i.e. water brokerages

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Project Supports Regional Goals Strategies

• NWPPC Approximate Natural Hydrographics
• Action Agencies 2001 Improve Water Quality
  Quantity
• IDFG Improve Water Quantity

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Project Supports Regional Recommendations

• Governors Plan

• Partnerships Landowners Full Partners in
  Recovery Effort
• Develop Water Markets Willing Buyers Sellers
• Local Recovery Plans Endorses Local Planning

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Project Purpose

• Address Water Leasing Restrictions Concerns
• Lease Irrigation Water from Upper Snake River
  Subbasin Water Users
• Release Protect Water to Below Hells Canyon
  Complex
• Benefit Fish Wildlife

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Water Leasing Limitations

• Ag Preference Priority Last To Fill
• Minimal Rental Price 2 or 7 acre foot
• Water Exchanges
  Discouraged

Palisades Dam
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Lemhi Natural Flow Rental

• 220 per acre 2001 USBR rental price
• 88 per acre foot _at_ 2.5 feet per acre

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1999 USBR Analysis of Flow Augmentation for a
62-year Period (1928-1989)
In FY 2001 flow augmentation from the Upper Snake
River was 41,441 acre-feet. (USBR, 2001)
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Project Planning Design

• Research Rules Regulations
• Identify Needed Changes
• Implement Changes
• Identify Willing Water Lessors

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Project Implementation

• Contract Development
• Sign Contracts
• FY 2002 3000 acre feet (test case)
• Out years up to 20,000 acre feet

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Project O M

• Problem Solving

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Project M E

• Contract Compliance
• Develop monitoring method
• Possible use of remote sensing

S. Idaho 08/01/2000 landsat
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Budget

• Primary Expenses

• Legal Fees Resolve issues
• Project Manager recruit willing farmers
• Leasing Water water in the river
• Project Monitoring documented results

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Questions