[6] Idaho Comes Up With BiOp Water After All

Late spring rains on the Snake River plain have helped the state of Idaho come up with all 427,000 acre-feet of water called for in the hydro BiOp to augment flows for ESA-listed fish populations.

"Unusual spring weather was a big help, but meeting this objective is still a significant achievement, considering the drought," said Bill McDonald, regional director of the Bureau of Reclamation in a June 22 press release.

The 427,000 AF target is also part of the Nez Perce water rights settlement and is achieved on a "willing seller and lessor" basis. The settlement has also opened up new sources of water for flow augmentation, allowing BuRec to rent or acquire 60,000 AF of water associated with high lift pump lands, along with the possibility of using more water from behind Palisades Dam as a last resort. -B. R.

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