Idaho Water Supply Committee

Committee Organization

The committee may organize a variety of subcommittees depending upon the stage and magnitude of the water supply problem to help meet its goals. The committee chairman will request that various organizations assign personnel to the subcommittees and will appoint a chairman for each subcommittee. Each subcommittee chairman is responsible for the organization, membership and function of the subcommittee and will report to the Water Supply committee on activities, goals and progress.

Water Data Subcommittee

• Compile and analyze water supply and energy data and forecast water supply availability. Provide technical assistance to the other subcommittees.
• Membership includes IDWR, National Weather Service (NWS), Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Public Information Subcommittee

• Organize information about the drought and conservation measures in a form understandable to the public.
• Coordinate public information distributed from individual organizations in order to prevent public confusion.
• Membership should include information officers from public organizations.

Agricultural Subcommittee

• Investigate and monitor water shortage problems connected with farm and ranch operations, including public land grazing, and provide technical assistance where possible. Energy issues need to be coordinated with Energy Subcommittee.
• Membership should include Idaho Department of Agriculture, BOR, University of Idaho Cooperative Extension Service, NRCS, and Consolidated Farm Service Agency (CFSA).

Municipal, Industrial and Water Quality Subcommittee

• Investigate and monitor water shortage problems with municipal systems and industrial users; provide technical assistance. Energy issues need to be coordinated with the Energy Subcom- mittee.
• Membership should include IDWR, Idaho Department of Health Welfare (DEQ) (also health districts), Association of Commerce and Industry and the Association of Idaho Cities.

Energy Subcommittee

• Evaluate and monitor energy supplies; coordinate with other subcommittees.
• Coordinate with the state member of the Northwest Power Planning Council.
• Membership should include, Idaho Northwest Power Planning Council, Public Utilities Commission, Bonneville Power Administration, Idaho Power Co., IDWR, the Association of Commerce and Industry, COE and BOR.

Fish, Wildlife, Recreation and Environment Subcommittee

• Investigate and monitor areas of critical need to determine where habitat may be threatened and where water and land management practices could improve fish, wildlife and recreational values, including water quality problems.
• Determine potential of impact to recreation and tourism. Coordinate with Public Information Subcommittee to provide positive recreation information minimizing impact to the tourism industry.
• Monitor land management, fire suppression and issues relative to impacts and actions on grazing and operational changes dealing with fire hazard and suppression.
• Membership should include Idaho Department of Commerce, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Idaho Department of Lands, Idaho Division of Environmental Quality, Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

Economic Subcommittee

• Evaluate and monitor needs of individuals and organizations financially affected by the drought.
• Assist in obtaining financing for supplementary water sources.
• Membership should include Farmers Home Administration, Conservation Farm Service Agency, Idaho Bankers Association, Idaho Department of Commerce, Legislative Revenue and Taxation Committee and the Budget Bureau.