BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — Planning for the future is essential for the Boise River Basin and future water needs.
So, the Bureau of Reclamation is looking at the potential to increase water storage. Making water supply more reliable here in the Treasure Valley.
“Especially for times of drought years or supplemental uses. We see the population growing, we see the demand changing and increasing and so through this process we will define these kinds of impacts and evaluate them,” said Roland Springer, Area Manager.
Springer says they want to educate the public and hear what can be impacted through public comment.
“The main things we are evaluating is the potential raising of Anderson Ranch dam. That would be about a six foot raise and we would get approximately 29 thousand acre-feet of additional storage through this project,” Springer said.
With the expansion, Springer says this project shouldn’t impact existing water rights.
“The water rights for this project would be junior to current users so in times where there’s extra spring run off that goes downstream we would be able to capture that water through the proposed project,” Springer said.
Springer says there’s always a challenge in getting new water supply but this is a good option and they need the public's input to move this project forward.
“It will help us adjust to however the weather will change in the future. It helps us with weather change, climate variation, it could help us with growth in the Treasure Valley," Springer said.
The Bureau of Reclamation is hosting three open houses for public comment on the proposed project:
August 27, 1:00–3:00 p.m. – Boise River Senior Center, Pine, Idaho
August 28, 6:00–8:00 p.m. – Wyndham Garden Inn, Boise, Idaho
August 29, 6:00–8:00 p.m. – American Legion, Mountain Home, Idaho
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