8-23 IAN Rathdrum Water

 Idaho Water Resource Board Adopts Rathdrum Prairie Comprehensive Aquifer Management Plan. The Idaho Water Resource Board (IWRB) adopted the Rathdrum Prairie Comprehensive Aquifer Management Plan at their July meeting. The Plan lays out strategies to manage the water resources of the Rathdrum Prairie over the next 50 years. The Plan is a proactive strategy that recognizes the regional benefits provided by the water resources of the Coeur d’Alene-Spokane area. The IWRB conducted studies that forecast future water needs and impacts of climate change on the water supply and an assessment of the local issues and concerns.I called up IWRB spokesperson Helen Harrington: “Any implications for agricultural people? Probably not anywhere near what it would be if it was down in Southern Idaho. I think that the overall plan talks about implementing conservation and working with local interests and communities and entities on water efficiency practices. So much of that out there is dry land or sprinkler so they don’t have flood irrigation the way  we do down here so it will be a little bit different with the efficiency aspects of that I imagine. Would it be fair to say that you don’t see any staggering ramifications for farmers? No (laughter).