How does our water management affect our watershed?

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Submitted by Luke Kolar on Tue, 2015-07-14 00:00

Water management is something that is now essential to the treasure valley because of how the Boise river system was initially managed.  When this valley started seeing more residents move here, available and usable land was at a premium due to this being a desert/steppe environment.  Early in the 20th century barber dam was constructed to supply water to higher elevations further off the initial bench's near the Boise river.  Soon after arroowrock was constructed.  Because of irrigation demands and flood concerns Anderson ranch and lucky peak were added as well.

With the addition of these dams we have harnessed the Boise rover and created a need to manage it.  The consequences of that management has created safer development on the flood plain, irrigation to a desert, power generation, as well as recreation on the impounded rivers. The negative aspects are that we have created settlement regions for sand and silt to accumulate as well as cut off (at the time) anadromous fish spawning grounds.

 

My question to you is: as the population of this valley expands, how do we plan for the need for more water?

Comments

Wendy Tucker's picture

Submitted by Wendy Tucker on Tue, 2015-07-14 21:22

Knowing all I do about water, I am not sure how many more people the west can sustain with major changes in water policy.  I am happy to have fresh clean water but do we all really need a large grassy yard?  We all who live in the valley will have to make tough choices for the future.  I think this starts with more education, people need to realize we live in a desert and that water is a precious resource.  We should also pay for the real cost, many people use cheep irrigation to water their grass.  We need to make priorities if our children are going to have enough water for the future.  

Luke Kolar's picture

Submitted by Luke Kolar on Wed, 2015-07-15 07:14

I think you're right about having a sustained resource for our future and that education is key.  I think what we are currently doing is a small step in that education process, but the bigger challenge I see is getting our local public to care.  Everyone lives in the present and as long as they see lucky peak filled every summer, there isn't much concern about 20-100+ years from now.

Thanks for your reply!