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HCR028....................................................by WAYS AND MEANS
MANAGED RECHARGE - Stating findings of the Legislature regarding the need
for managed recharge of the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer and directing the
Natural Resources Interim Committee, in conjunction with the Idaho Water
Resource Board, to pursue implementation of managed recharge.
03/30 House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
03/31 Rpt prt - to 2nd rdg
Rls susp - ADOPTED - voice vote
Floor Sponsor - Stevenson
Title apvd - to Senate
04/01 Senate intro - 1st rdg - to Res/Env
04/04 Rpt out - rec d/p - to 10th Ord
Rls susp - ADOPTED - voice vote
Floor Sponsor - Cameron
Title apvd - to House
04/05 To enrol - Rpt enrol - Sp signed
04/06 Pres signed - To Secretary of State
]]]] LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO ]]]]
Fifty-eighth Legislature First Regular Session - 2005
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 28
BY WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE
1 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
2 STATING LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS REGARDING THE NEED FOR MANAGED RECHARGE OF THE
3 EASTERN SNAKE PLAIN AQUIFER AND DIRECTING THE NATURAL RESOURCES INTERIM
4 COMMITTEE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE IDAHO WATER RESOURCE BOARD TO PURSUE
5 IMPLEMENTATION OF MANAGED RECHARGE.
6 Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
7 WHEREAS, the extended drought in combination with changes in irrigation
8 practices and ground water pumping has resulted in reduced spring discharges
9 and reduced gains to the Snake River from the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer; and
10 WHEREAS, reduced spring discharges and reduced gains to the Snake River
11 have resulted in insufficient water supplies to satisfy existing beneficial
12 uses relying on spring discharges and Snake River flows; and
13 WHEREAS, reduced spring discharges and reduced gains to the Snake River
14 have led to conflicts between water users diverting from water sources hydrau-
15 lically connected to the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer; and
16 WHEREAS, the conflict between water users poses a significant threat to
17 the state's economy as well as to the economic well-being of individual water
18 users; and
19 WHEREAS, the welfare of the people of the state of Idaho is dependent upon
20 the conservation, development and augmentation of the water resources of the
21 state and the protection and preservation of such resources for application to
22 beneficial uses within the state pursuant to state law; and
23 WHEREAS, Policy 1J, of the Idaho State Water Plan, encourages the imple-
24 mentation of managed recharge pursuant to state law; and
25 WHEREAS, the Idaho Department of Water Resources prepared a report enti-
26 tled "Feasibility of Large-Scale Managed Recharge of the Eastern Snake Plain
27 Aquifer System" in December 1999, that sets forth a reconnaissance-level basis
28 for development of a managed recharge program; and
29 WHEREAS, specific site investigations, feasibility-level evaluations,
30 assessment of the availability of water supplies, affect on existing water
31 rights, and other analyses are required; and
32 WHEREAS, water users addressing the Expanded Natural Resources Interim
33 Committee in 2004 urged the state of Idaho to move forward with the implemen-
34 tation of an effective managed recharge program to augment the Eastern Snake
35 Plain Aquifer; and
36 WHEREAS, there is an urgent need to target managed recharge to locations
37 that will provide maximum benefits to Snake River reaches relied upon by
38 affected water users.
39 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the First Regular Session
40 of the Fifty-eighth Idaho Legislature, the House of Representatives and the
41 Senate concurring therein, that the Natural Resources Interim Committee, in
42 conjunction with the Idaho Water Resource Board, is directed to work with
43 interested parties to develop specific site investigations, assessments of the
44 availability of water supplies and a plan for implementation of a managed
2
1 recharge program for the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer that will provide maximum
2 benefits to Snake River reaches relied upon by affected water users along with
3 recommendations for necessary legislative changes to implement and to fund the
4 program.
5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Natural Resources Interim Committee and
6 the Idaho Water Resource Board meet with potentially affected water right
7 holders and federal agencies to resolve any potential institutional
8 impediments to implementation of an effective managed recharge program and to
9 ensure that such program is consistent with applicable law.
10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Natural Resources Interim Committee and
11 the Idaho Water Resource Board pursue any required federal legislation to
12 obtain access to and use of federal lands and facilities necessary for the
13 implementation of an effective managed recharge program.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
RS 15228C1
This House Concurrent Resolution directs the Natural Resources
Interim Committee and the Idaho Water Resources Board to work
with interested parties to develop a plan for implementation of
an effective managed recharge program for the Eastern Snake Plain
Aquifer. To date, institutional, environmental, hydrologic and
engineering factors as well as lack of funding have frustrated
efforts to implement a managed recharge program. Water users
appearing before the Natural Resource Interim Committee in 2004
urged the State of Idaho to resolve the impediments to and move
forward with implementation of a managed recharge program. The
purpose of this resolution is to demonstrate the State of Idaho's
commitment to developing an effective managed recharge program
for the Eastern Snake Plan Aquifer.
FISCAL NOTE
This resolution will have no impact on the general fund.
Contact
Name: Rep. John Stevenson
Rep. Dell Raybould
Phone: (208) 332-1000
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE HCR 28