Treasure Valley Partnership
Meeting Minutes
May 30, 2007

Bill Larsen opened the meeting and explained that our host Nancy Merrill had gotten called away on an emergency.

Bill asked all of the members that were ready to sign the Resolution on Floodplain Management practices, to gather to sign the resolution and get a picture taken for a press release to the local media. Those that signed the resolution included: Dave Bieter, Tammy de Weerd, Brad Holton, Margie Watson, John Evans, Nate Mitchell and Paul Woods.

Bill introduced Lisa Stark from the Bureau of Reclamation, Snake River area office. Their office addresses issues in the Snake River watershed from Jackson to the confluence in Lewiston. She manages issues associated with water resource planning for the watershed. There are two ways in water resource management issues are looked at. They include the supply side and the demand side. The supply management issues include finding new supplies. The demand management issues include the implementation of policies, looking at economic, conservation, training, and marketing issues.

From a planning perspective, the Bureau looks at supply, demand and conservation. They also look at both national and local interests associated with planning for and managing the core elements of supply, demand and conservation.

Lisa then began a summary of the Boise/Payette Water Storage assessment study completed by the Bureau. She mentioned that there are three levels of study, begging with the assessment, which can lead to an appraisal or a feasibility study which are much more intensive studies.
Lisa then provided a summary of a recently completed Water Storage Assessment Study. This Water Storage Assessment Study focused on water storage opportunities that exist in the Treasure Valley. The Study was managed by Ch2M Hill included large stakeholder involvement with the development of the study. They looked at water rights, flows and a variety of studies on the river systems to develop this assessment study.

The differences in the Boise and Payette river basins can be summarized as follows.

1. The Payette River Basin is about 25% larger than the Boise basin.
2. The Boise River Basin is more developed than the Payette basin with a little more than one million acre/feet captured storage water compared to only 815,000 storage water capacity.
3. The Boise River Basin receives less hydrology (snow pack).

Projected water demand (20 – 50 yrs.) appeared to be one area of information that was lacking adequate consensus and consistent documentation. For example, the projected future demand ranged from 50,000 acre/feet to 300,000 acre/feet.

In the assessment report, they identified several physical locations to develop storage capacity. There are 8 areas of opportunity for water storage. They include three storage opportunities in the Boise Basin including; raising lucky peak, Arrowrock or Anderson Dam and water storage opportunities on the lower south and the north forks of the Boise River. In addition, there were five storage opportunities in the Payette Basin.

John Evans asked if the study recognized the urbanization of the valley. Lisa indicated that the trend growth figures that did not take into account increasing population growth trends since 2003.

Tammy de Weerd asked if there are models that Lisa would recommend using? Lisa indicated there are lots of good models and that they had just completed a water budget in the Boise area. This indicates what they are delivering and quantified by type of use. They also have a groundwater use model that has been recently developed.

Update: Lisa mentioned that they are processing the LIDR data and it should be available soon.

Nate Mitchell asked, what is the reality of having new storage facilities built? She indicated it is a political process on the federal level. However there are processes in place that are advancing feasibility studies to progress toward generating new storage facilities. It could take from conception to completion 15 years to complete the approval process.

Paul Woods asked if the Treasure Valley Partnership could request a feasibility study for raising lucky peak for increased storage. She indicated that is an option and the Bureau would welcome local input in pushing the process forward.

Election of Officers. The current officers are; Nancy Merrill – President, Tom Dale – Vice President, and Tammy de Weerd as Secretary/Treasurer.

Nate Mitchell asked if there were normally a progression through the offices. Bill indicated that the historical expert, Elizabeth Conner, former TVP Director should be able to shed light on the process. Elizabeth stated that normally there was a progression through the offices in the past. Additionally, in the past, officers were selected by rotating representatives from Ada and Canyon Counties each year.

Nate moved that we elect Tom Dale as President, Tammy de Weerd as Vice President and Margie Watson as Secretary/Treasurer. John Evans seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

Bill handed out a spreadsheet on current dues associated with membership in the Partnership. He stated that there would be lots of room under the current budget to carry forth with our financial obligations for the 2007-2008 fiscal year. Tammy de Weerd moved to keep the membership dues at the existing level. Margie Watson seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

Tammy de Weerd requested that obligations regarding the SAUSA Project be included in the monthly profit/loss statements. Margie Watson moved and Tammy de Weerd seconded to approve the minutes and budget. Motion carried.

Paul Woods indicated that Ada County has been asked to look into a covered vehicle/tarp ordinance. There was a lot of discussion on this and it was decided that Bill would look into this issue and report back to the Partnership.

Nate Mitchell moved to adjourn the meeting. Margie Watson seconded. Motion carried.