For the week of November 19 - 24, 2003

Little Wood irrigation proposal EIS completed

Project’s benefits debated

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"There are many ways to spend $27 million. That’s about one plane load of smart bombs."

— BOB SIMPSON, Little Wood River Irrigation District watermaster (USAF retired)

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By MATT FURBER
Express Staff Writer

In the Little Wood River Valley near Carey, surface water irrigators are hoping feedback on an environmental impact statement will help secure an estimated $27 million in federal appropriations to upgrade the irrigation system fed by the Little Wood Reservoir.

The Little Wood River channel, above Carey, is often dry most of the year water since the lower river has been diverted for agriculture since the 1930s. A new irrigation plan will not improve the natural flow much, but it will conserve energy and water demand in the valley. Express photo by Matt Furber

The Idaho congressional delegation has already secured $2.25 million through agriculture appropriations for the feasibility study currently under review and an engineering design for the project.

The current system uses two open canals to irrigate approximately 10,000 acres of farmland. The proposal sponsored by the Little Wood River Irrigation District is to enclose the flow of stored water in a pipe to create a gravity pressured delivery system.

First proposed in 1981, the idea was abandoned when funding dried up, said Little Wood Irrigation District watermaster Bob Simpson. Encouragement from the Idaho congressional delegation revived the plan.

As required by the National Environmental Protection Act of 1969, federally funded projects must complete an EIS before construction appropriations can be passed.

Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho has been an ardent supporter of Idaho agriculture and helped push for the EIS funds, a spokesman from his Washington, D.C., staff said.

"Basically the irrigation district worked with the congressional district and the delegation identified that they wanted to make the project work," said Natural Resources Conservation Service state conservationist Richard Sims.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture last year identified Sims’ office as the agency to administer the EIS. Once the final comments have been received, Sims will make the final decision to approve the study.

It could then be presented to Simpson’s office for consideration. The delegation would determine if the cost benefit ratio of the project were appropriate to push for a construction appropriation, an aide said.

According to the EIS, the cost benefit of the project is about 30 cents to the dollar.

The irrigation district was able to garner support for the project because it has an income source from the hydroelectric plant at the base of the Little Wood Dam.

The project wouldn’t rely entirely on federal funds, said irrigation district chairman Richard Payne. "But, we couldn’t do this without federal funds."

So far the NRCS office has only received two responses to the draft EIS, Sims said. The plan does have opponents.

"This is a huge pork barrel project," said Western Watersheds Project Executive Director Jon Marvel. The Hailey-based advocates seek to protect and restore watersheds and wildlife through education, public policy initiatives and litigation.

Marvel said the public benefits of the project are spurious and that watershed’s best use is not agriculture.

"The greatest benefit goes to the largest landowner," he said.

The projected cost of the project is a $3000 subsidy per acre, according to the EIS.

"We should be able to ask if marginal farming is the most appropriate use of (taxpayers dollars)," Marvel said. "(Irrigation) continues to de-water the river solely for the benefit of agriculture."

The river channel is dry most of the year because the natural flow has been diverted. During periods of high water a 6-mile section just below the main diversion dam receives water and is stocked for fishing.

Marvel said he would be more supportive of the expenditure if there was a benefit for wildlife and if there was a guarantee that the land would be preserved for agriculture.

Both Marvel and Payne share concerns about the trend of farmland being turned into subdivisions, but they differ on the possibilities for valley.

"This is a farming community," Payne said.

Payne said he expects the project to go forward, but he also said negative feedback could stifle it. He said that people who don’t see agriculture as a public benefit don’t understand the importance of farming to their lives. He also said that he would present the idea of conservation easements for farms at the next irrigation district meeting.

The goal of the proposal is to maximize conservation of water and energy required to irrigate existing farmland. Another goal is to provide more reliable water supply to the aquifer, reduce water losses due to seepage of the existing canals and provide economic stability to the local area.

The EIS states that the project will achieve the specific goals, but that there may be a slight reduction to ground water recharge. There will be impacts on riparian vegetation adjacent to the canals and the river channel with a loss of 39 acres of riparian woodland vegetation and 35 acres of grassland habitats, as well. A loss of 62 acres of wetlands will also occur. The EIS includes a number of mitigation measures for the losses.

Watermaster Simpson said the proposal is expensive and comes with tradeoffs, but given the mounting costs of electricity he hopes the long-term benefits will make the project worthwhile.

Marvel said the benefits are not worth the cost in dollars. "Think about what that money could go to parks and recreation in Blaine County."

"There are many ways to spend $27 million," said Bob Simpson, who is also retired as a logistics planner for the Air Force. "That’s about one plane load of smart bombs."

The deadline for public comment is Dec. 7.

 

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