[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 70 (Tuesday, May 24, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1073]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             WATER STORAGE

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. C.L. ``BUTCH'' OTTER

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 24, 2005

  Mr. OTTER. Mr. Speaker, If there's one thing Idahoans understand, 
it's the importance of matching our limited water supplies to what seem 
to be unlimited demands on the water we have. Every year our water 
supplies face demands from irrigation, power generation, industrial and 
municipal users, as well as from environmental groups for fish recovery 
and other Endangered Species Act requirements.
  These demands are constantly growing, yet every spring we watch 
hundreds of thousands of acre-feet of water pass through our system 
that could and should be stored for beneficial uses. This is water that 
could be used for aquifer recharge, expanding municipal systems or even 
environmental mitigation.
  I have been told that the days of building new dams are over. 
However, I am not that easily convinced. Recently I convened a group of 
interested water users to look at additional storage opportunities in 
Idaho. The group is focusing on the Treasure Valley, but we are hopeful 
that the group can find some success and we can use a similar process 
in other regions of the state. We are not just talking about building 
dams; we also are looking at adding to existing structures, off-site 
storage, recharge and a host of other ideas.
  As part of this process, the Bureau of Reclamation in Idaho is 
undertaking the appraisal level study for the Boise and Payette river 
systems. The legislation I am introducing today is the next step in the 
process. It is a broad authorization for the Bureau to conduct 
feasibility studies on the Snake, Boise, and Payette River systems.
  Our communities, our economy and our families all depend on water to 
survive, grow and prosper. Deciding how to use such a rare commodity in 
a way that does the greatest good for the greatest number, while hewing 
to the principles of law and equity on which our society is based, is 
an enormous challenge. The task is further complicated, and brought 
into sharp focus, by the continuing drought plaguing Idaho and much of 
the arid West.
  Our energy, our economy and our environment all will depend on the 
ability to anticipate and prioritize future water needs. Our children, 
our grandchildren and generations to come all are depending on the 
choices we make today. Preserving water rights while providing for 
continued growth are a top priority of mine and I will continue to work 
to achieve that goal.




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