July 23, 2002
Sue Tholen
(208) 378-5276

Reclamation Seeks Public Input on Water Contracts

The Bureau of Reclamation is seeking public input on its proposal to renew Lucky Peak Reservoir water service contracts or convert them to repayment contracts.

Out of a total reservoir storage capacity of approximately 293,000 acre-feet, approximately 71,000 acre-feet of water is allocated to the water service contracts currently held by 19 irrigation contractors. The original contracts were signed between 1965 and 1968, each with a term of 40 years. Therefore, these contracts are due to expire between 2005 and 2008, depending on the date of each original contract.

Lucky Peak Reservoir is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir impounded by Lucky Peak Dam which was constructed in the late 1950s as a flood-control dam and reservoir on the Boise River, located six miles north-east of Boise, Idaho.

According to Federal Reclamation Law, and an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Reclamation has the authority to enter into irrigation contracts aimed at making some of the reservoir water available to qualifying entities for supplemental irrigation supplies.

These contracts can be renewed as water service contracts or converted to repayment contracts at the request of the contractor.

Water Service Contracts: Water service contracts provide irrigation entities with the right to a quantity of water in exchange for payment of a percentage of applicable reservoir capital, operation, and maintenance costs. They expire after a specific time period, but may be renewed.

Repayment Contracts: Repayment contracts provide irrigation entities with the right to a quantity of water in exchange for payment of a percentage of applicable reservoir capital, operation, and maintenance costs. However, repayment contracts have a specific time period for repayment of project construction costs with no expiration date of the contract.

The purpose of the proposed action for this project is to continue to provide current Lucky Peak contractors with a supplemental irrigation water supply up to the amounts specified in their original contracts.

The National Environmental Policy Act requires Reclamation to evaluate the impacts of this proposed action on the human and natural environments. Reclamation is asking the public for assistance in helping to identify issues and concerns related to the proposed action. Written comments can be provided to Jerrold D. Gregg, Area Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, Snake River Area Office, 214 Broadway Avenue, Boise, Idaho 83642, by August 16. If you have any questions or would like to be added to the mailing list for the project you may contact Ms. Sue Tholen at (208) 378-5276.