News Release Archive

Henrys Fork Basin Study Topic of Two Open Houses

Media Contact: John Redding, (208) 378-5212, 05/07/2013 09:09
Robert Schattin, rschattin@usbr.gov

For Release: May 07, 2013

BOISE, Idaho - The Bureau of Reclamation and the Idaho Water Resource Board (IWRB) will be on hand at two informal public open houses in eastern Idaho to discuss the status and process of the Henrys Fork Basin Study.

The open houses will be held:

  • May 13 - Trails Inn Restaurant, 213 2nd Street in Ashton, Idaho. The Henry’s Fork Foundation is sponsoring this open house.
    • 5 pm – 7 pm
  • May 14 - Driggs City Center Building, 60 S. Main Street in Driggs, Idaho. The Friends of the Teton River is sponsoring this open house.
    • 4 pm – 8 pm
"This will give people an opportunity to ask questions about the study in an informal setting," said Bob Schattin, Reclamation Activity Manager. "Our objective here is simply to share information and explain what is easily considered a very complex process."

The Basin Study will identify opportunities for developing water supplies and improving water management while sustaining environmental quality. After nearly three years of collaboration, technical analysis and public participation, the Henrys Fork Basin Special Study Interim Report describing potential future water supply alternatives for the basin was released in February.

The open houses will focus on the range of alternatives outlined in the Interim Report and how they were selected for future analysis. The alternatives include:

  • Existing and new surface storage alternatives
  • Managed ground water recharge
  • Agricultural conservation and management
  • Municipal and Industrial conservation alternatives
  • Market based alternatives
This is an ongoing collaborative effort involving a stakeholder's workgroup which included the Henry's Fork Watershed Council, irrigation districts, conservation organizations, universities, the Henry's Fork Foundation, as well as federal and state agencies.

The study will conclude with a final basin study report by the end of 2013. For more information about the open houses contact Mr. Bob Schattin at (208) 378-5090.

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Relevant Link:

Henrys Fork Basin Study Special Interim Report