11/30/07 IDWR seeks input on updated Idaho water plan

The Idaho water plan established the policy in 1976 that guides development, management and conservation of the state's water. IDWR's Hal Anderson says it was last updated in 1996. ANDERSON "The track that we're on would have this plan submitted to the legislature in 2010." Among issues to be addressed in this process are global warming, water supply and storage, changing demographics and conjunctive management of surface and ground water. ANDERSON "Identifying areas that we need to focus on, updating the existing policies, eliminating the existing policies because they're not relevant anymore and adding new policies to accommodate changes that have happened since the last plan was developed and our increased ability to be able to measure, monitor and evaluate our water supplies. We've gone out and solicited general comments from the public and anyone that might be interested in providing some input to the board." And there will be a series of public hearings around the state before the plan is adopted and submitted to the legislature. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott