05/06/05 What about more water storage?

With Idaho and the West now in the sixth year drought there's renewed talk about the need for more stored water. That could mean new dams or raising the height of existing ones. Jerrold Gregg of the Bureau of Reclamation says the Treasure Valley is one area where growth may necessitate more flood control but additional storage water is needed for people, agriculture and electric power production. GREGG "Folks have approached Reclamation to look at this issue through our planning program. So we have been working with the Idaho Water Resources Department on probably starting to scope out the issue. But is if feasible to add new storage facilities or add on to say raise Anderson or Arrowrock Reservoirs." Gregg says raising either or both of those dams could add between 30 thousand and 60 thousand acre feet of storage water. But that's still not the cheapest way to get additional water. GREGG "Any water conservation project you do any system improvement you do to the current system is your least cost." Twin Falls, Idaho Falls and Pocatello all have future needs for more storage water but the Boise Valley may have the most need because of a projected population of one million people by 2025. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott