Wednesday, March 5, 2008

What lies ahead for Indian Creek?

Initiative proposed to return flow to Big Wood River


By TONY EVANS
Express Staff Writer

An advisory board for the Indian Creek Initiative has begun studies on the size of a proposed canal to reconnect Indian Creek water with the Big Wood River, and thereby reduce flooding in the Northridge subdivision.

Indian Creek—which originates northeast of Hailey—was diverted away from the river by intensive irrigation in the 1900s and more recently into dry wells to control flooding in the Northridge subdivision in Hailey. Proponents of the initiative contend the dry wells have been ineffective in controlling flooding, and that reconnecting the creek to the river would better control flooding and benefit fish and wildlife.

The project's local advisory board and technical advisory board met together for the first time on Tuesday, Feb. 26, at the Community Campus in Hailey to begin feasibility studies for creating the waterway. Their first goal is to determine the necessary width of a canal to accommodate a 100-year flood.

A route for the canal has not yet been determined. The group plans to put several alternatives before the public within five months.

Rich McIntyre, managing partner of the Crystal Consulting Group, is heading up the initiative. He said the plan would also benefit Indian Creek water rights holders by giving them the ability to lease, sell or donate their water for downstream uses. McIntyre helped to shepherd the Wood River Legacy Project into law before the Idaho Legislature in early 2007. Passage of the Legacy Project enabled Big Wood River water rights holders to leave water instream without losing the rights.

"I think this is an important project which could set emulative standards for similar projects across the state," McIntyre said.

He said the project would need to be permitted by the city of Hailey, Blaine County, the Idaho Department of Water Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

"Everybody wants to see Indian Creek water returned to the Big Wood River," said Tom Kennedy, an owner of property on the south side of Indian Creek. "But this is a very big project. There are rights-of-way issues and also liability issues involved with having water run through your property. On the other hand, it could also increase your property values to have water running through it."




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