GUEST EDITORIAL
Jerrold Gregg
Manager Snake River Area Office
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
(208) 334-1461

River Operations Require Balancing Act

Managing the flows in the Upper Snake River basin is a balancing act requiring the Bureau of Reclamation to adhere to federal contracts with Idaho irrigators and environmental laws passed by Congress.

This balancing act not only requires paying close attention to the conflicts between various interest groups, but also conflicts arising from suppling water to various habitats that are remote from each other, yet still dependent on the same source of water.

Reclamation's management of flows in the Upper Snake River has become the subject of debate from those on all sides of this issue and our position deserves clarification. Reclamation must store water when it is available in order to fulfill contractual obligations and provide future resource benefits. Future benefits of stored water must be weighed against current streamflows. Providing water to Idaho irrigators is the primary reason why Upper Snake River dams were authorized by Congress to be built.

Although contractual obligations to Idaho irrigators is high on the priority list, Palisades, Jackson Lake and American Falls Reservoirs are all operated with consideration given to other purposes including flood control, power, fish and wildlife, and recreation.

Because this year was drier than the last few years have been, the reservoir system contained less water at the end of the summer irrigation season. Through the past dry summer, Reclamation kept water in Palisades and Jackson Reservoirs and drew heavily upon American Falls Reservoir in order to increase flows in the South Fork of the Snake River this fall and winter season without compromising our obligations next year.

Following the dry years of 1987 and 1988, when flows below Palisades Dam were reduced to750 and 700 cubic feet per second respectively, Reclamation undertook studies with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game to document flow effects and to better understand fishery needs in the Snake River.

Reclamation has a clear understanding of the value of Idaho's water and the role this water plays in the state's continued social, economic, and environmental successes. The challenge Reclamation faces is striking a balance and working with all those who need the same precious resource. Therefore, when making water management decisions, every attempt is made to achieve a level of flexibility for future seasons.

In a sequence of dry years, water that Reclamation fails to store in Palisades Reservoir must be delivered from Jackson Lake in Wyoming. The resulting requirement would be to curtail flows below Jackson Lake Dam. Simply put, the operation of Palisades impacts both downstream and upstream resources. The operation of Palisades Dam for example, has impacts to the downstream residents of Idaho, but also the interests of those in Wyoming.

Reclamation is also committed under the 1995 Biological Opinion to supply augmentation water from the Upper Snake River for ESA-listed anadromous fish in the Columbia River system. Without refill of this space, Reclamation must take more drastic measures to fulfill ESA obligations, which again increases risk of low flows next winter.

Hydrologic conditions are continually monitored and if it is necessary to modify the flow regimes as snow pack accumulates, then Reclamation is ready to respond. Prediction of weather is not accurate far into the future. Only after snow has accumulated can some level of certainty be attached to the runoff conditions for next spring.

The agency maintains its obligation to function in the best interest of the U.S. taxpayer and to respond to issues and concerns from all interested parties. As stewards of this public trust, Reclamation takes the job seriously and makes every attempt to manage rivers in the best interest of the public and within the guidelines of state and federal mandates.

However, managing Idaho's water resources requires cooperation and communication among a diverse group of special interests.

Questions and comments related to Reclamation's management of the Snake River are always welcome and always answered to the best of our ability.

Readers are always welcome to visit the Bureau of Reclamation website at www.pn.usbr.gov to find out the latest information and programs that the agency is involved in or to just seek information.