Feds Stimulate Water

David Sparks Ph.D.

 Just how many dollars will the Federal  government’s economic recovery stimulus funding program pour into Idaho in the form of water projects and what projects will benefit will be one of the main topics at the 2009 annual Idaho Water Users Association’s Summer Water Law and Resources Issues seminar set for June 22-23 in Sun Valley, IWUA officials announced today. The seminar at the Sun Valley Resort will also examine a wide range of other water related issues including the new emphasis on Pacific Northwest salmon recovery efforts and water issues growing out of the recent wild and scenic designations in the newly created Owyhee Wilderness area.

 “With a new administration and a Democrat-controlled Congress, coupled with economic recovery programs, new legislative and legal developments plus changes in water quality, endangered species and other laws, this year’s seminar will tackle some of the most hot button issues in recent years,”  said Norm Semanko,  IWUA executive director. “We usually have 150-200 folks there from the water user community, government, attorneys, consultants, and they’re all interested in the same thing and that is what the future of the water resource issues in the State of Idaho is, and you can’t talk about that this year without talking about what the federal stimulus package may mean so we’ve asked those folks to come in and talk to us about exactly how those dollars may be directed to Idaho through various programs.”