Update on Water Rights Presentation on Comstock Canal Dave Tuthill - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Update on Water Rights Presentation on Comstock Canal Dave Tuthill Ernie Carlsen September 10, 2013

Topics  Intro to IWE  Water Right Basics  Conjunctive Administration (Conjunctive Management)  Estimated Timeline for Wood River Valley  Comstock Canal  Opportunity

Idaho Water Engineering  Founded in 2009  Water Resource Engineering throughout Idaho  Water measurement  Water rights  Mitigation plans  Most employees have more than 30 years experience working with Idaho Department of Water Resources  52 clients thus far in the Wood River Valley  Ketchum Office: 321 S. Leadville, Suite A, Office Hours by Appointment  www.idahowaterengineering.com

Prediction… Relative to property transactions in the Wood River Valley where water rights have significant value… Change is coming between now and 2015

In Idaho the appropriation doctrine is used for the delivery both surface water rights and ground water rights — “first in time is first in right”

Mrs. Clark Administered by a State of Idaho Irrigation of Water District 500 acres which hires a Watermaster 10.0 cfs If a water right is not used Well 6/16/1982 for five consecutive years it can be lost due to forfeiture Mr. Black Irrigation of 60 acres 1.2 cfs Mrs. Adams 6/17/1887 Irrigation of 50 acres 1.0 cfs 6/16/1887 1 miner’s inch = .02 cubic feet per second = 9 gallons per minute

Scenario 1 – during 2012 Example – Scenario 2 – during 2014 or Which right is most 2015 likely to be curtailed? Scenario 3 – during 2020 1954 Water Right Ground Water City of Ketchum, Municipal 1956 Water Right 1959 Water Right Ground Water Non-tributary ½ acre lawn irrigation 24 acres irrigation 1886 Water Right Big Wood River 32 acres Irrigation

Minimum Stream Flow Rights on the Big Wood River Above Magic Reservoir ( 1/16/1986) SNRA to Warm Springs--200/150 cfs ~ 37-8258 Warm Springs Cr. (6/19/1981) Warm Springs to District 45 Canal 70 cfs ~ 37-7919 (10/16/1987) Warm Springs to District 45 Canal 119 cfs ~ 37-8307 NOTE: 37-7919 and 37-8307 are “Stacked Rights” for 189 cfs Slide by Dr. Lee Brown

Mitigation  Merriam-Webster definition : To cause to become less harsh or hostile  Implemented to prevent injury to existing water rights  Must be in-time, in-place and replacement water must be for full amount of injury

Steps Toward Conjunctive Administration in the Wood River Valley  Adjudicate the surface water rights ~ 1900  Establish Water District 37 to administer surface water rights ~ 1900  Commence delivery of surface water rights ~ 1900  Adjudicate ground water rights – 1987 – 2013  Establish a water district for ground water rights – in progress  Commence delivery of ground water rights – 2014 or 2015 (per IDWR)

Opportunity Offered by Innovative Mitigation Solutions, LLC  See Lease Agreement for Landlord  IMS proposes to:  File an Application for Permit for a water right for Ground Water Recharge, along with other sites  Measure flows in conjunction with Water District 37  Conduct modeling and identify the extent of credits  Market credits and split proceeds  Review and adjust (if necessary) agreement in five years

Thank you. 321 S. Leadville, Suite A, Ketchum 208-378-1513 Website: www.idahowaterengineering.com Email:info@idahowaterengineering.com