03/13/08 "Reasonably optimistic" water supply outlook

The Idaho Water Supply Committee met in Boise yesterday and its best to sum up the state's water situation this way. ANDERSON "Reasonably optimistic." Idaho Department of Water Resource's Hal Anderson says the LaNina conditions we just experienced this winter brought much needed rain and snow to Idaho. He says when you look at the numbers this is shaping up to be just about an average year all the way around. It couldn't have come at the better time, given that most reservoirs were dry last fall, there was nothing left after a year of severe drought. ANDERSON "And it looks like we're going to have close to full reservoirs throughout the state. We're still looking to be average or above average in the northern part of the state. The only areas that are particularly right on the edge now are upper Snake system. At this point in time average is a good thing. We'll take that after last year." Anderson says if it suddenly turns warm and dry the early irrigation demand might mean that some upper Snake reservoirs wouldn't completely fill. The forecast for the next week calls for normal temperatures and a wet period. ANDERSON "The long term forecasts do look like this LaNina event will be breaking down slowly through the spring." Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott