07/05/05 Congressional staffers come to Idaho

Staff members from key Congressional resource committees will join some Idaho legislators and the state's congressional delegation staff for two days of water education. The Idaho Water Users Association executive director Norm Semanko has lined up plenty of tours in the Magic Valley for Wednesday and Thursday. SEMANKO "We get them out on the ground so that they can see how we do things, what water project irrigation delivery is like and we make them aware of our problems from the ground level. We try to show issues and things in Idaho that relate to their job." Before returning to Washington on Friday the staffers will visit pumping stations, an existing injection well, innovative water quality improvement projects including wetlands and the Minidoka Dam. SEMANKO "You've got a spillway there that's in need of rehabilitation. It's a very expensive project. The irrigation districts in the area are partners with the Bureau of Reclamation on that and we need to discuss the need for that repair. We also need to discuss how that repair is going to be done, how it can be done in a way that's sensitive to the pocketbooks and wallets of the irrigators that will have to help pay for the rehabilitation of the dam." The eastern visitors will also learn about water issues as they dairy farms, the sugar industry, cheese making and digging potatoes. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott