July 17, 2001
John Redding
(208) 378-5212
Noel Copenhaver
(208) 334-9858

Reclamation Issues Draft Environmental Assessment

The Bureau of Reclamation issued a Draft Environmental Assessment on the environmental effects of a proposed assignment of 800 acre-feet of water storage in Lucky Peak Reservoir to United Water Idaho.

This storage is currently held by South Boise Mutual Irrigation Company and Capitol View Irrigation District under a contract with Reclamation. The proposed contract action would convey to United Water all of the two irrigation companies rights under their Lucky Peak water service contracts for the balance of the contract terms. The Capitol View Irrigation District contract is for the use of up to 300 acre-feet and expires in 2008. South Boise Mutual Irrigation Company’s contract is for the use of up to 500 acre-feet and expires in 2006.

United Water, the largest municipal water supplier in the Boise Valley, is seeking this action from Reclamation in order to assist them in meeting the water needs of the rapidly expanding population in their service area.

This need is particularly acute in the summer, when the irrigation of lawns, gardens, parks, and landscaping almost doubles the daily demand on United Water’s system. United Water can no longer rely only on its groundwater wells to provide for the water needs of the area and must begin supplementing this supply with surface water.

The peak demand in the entire service area is expected to increase from 93 million gallons per day used in 2000 to 122 million gallons per day by the year 2020, according to United Water.

Written comments on the Draft EA will be accepted until August 20. For more information or a copy of the Draft EA please contact Noel Copenhaver at (208) 334-9858.