Idaho Department of Water Resources Revised May 2001 IDAHO DROUGHT PLAN
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Idaho Department of Water Resources Revised May 2001 IDAHO DROUGHT PLAN with FEDERAL WATER-RELATED DROUGHT RESPONSE PROGRAMS Idaho Department of Water Resources Planning and Technical Services Division Boise, Idaho Revised May 2001 Costs associated with this publication are available from the Idaho Department of Water Resources In accordance with Section 60-202, Idaho Code Idaho Drought Plan ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The data and information presented in this report are available as a result of the work of the state and federal members of the Idaho Water Supply Committee. Federal water-related drought response programs, derived from The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, December 2000 (http:// www.cfda.gov), are included to provide valuable and up-to-date information for Idaho citizens. ii Idaho Drought Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Introduction, Purpose and Scope............................................................................................................................1 2 Idaho Water Supply Committee..............................................................................................................................1 2.1 Goals.......................................................................................................................................................1 2.2 Organization...........................................................................................................................................5 Water Data Subcommittee .............................................................................................................5 Public Information Subcommittee ................................................................................................5 Agricultural Subcommittee............................................................................................................5 Municipal, Industrial, and Water Quality Subcommittee.............................................................5 Energy Subcommittee ....................................................................................................................5 Fish, Wildlife, Recreation, and Environmental Subcommittee....................................................5 Economic Subcommittee...............................................................................................................5 3 Drought Conditions and Assistance .......................................................................................................................7 3.1 Definition ...............................................................................................................................................7 3.2 Indicators ................................................................................................................................................7 Palmer Drought Index ....................................................................................................................7 Surface Water Supply Index...........................................................................................................7 3.3 Identification of Drought-Related Problems........................................................................................8 3.4 Drought Declaration..............................................................................................................................9 3.5 Federal Assistance Programs.................................................................................................................9 3.6 State Assistance Programs.....................................................................................................................9 4 Water Supply Estimation........................................................................................................................................12 4.1 Climatological Data...............................................................................................................................12 4.2 Snow Surveys .........................................................................................................................................12 4.3 Gaging Stations ......................................................................................................................................12 4.4 Streamflow Forecasts ............................................................................................................................14 5 Water Conservation.................................................................................................................................................14 5.1 Information and Education....................................................................................................................14 5.1 Weather Modification............................................................................................................................15 6 Organizational Authority and Responsibility.........................................................................................................16 6.1 State Agencies ........................................................................................................................................16 Idaho Department of Water Resources..........................................................................................16 Idaho Bureau of Disaster Services.................................................................................................16 Idaho Department of Environmental Quality................................................................................17 Idaho State Department Agriculture..............................................................................................19 iii Idaho Drought Plan 6.2 Federal Agencies ....................................................................................................................................19 Farm Service Agency......................................................................................................................19 Risk Management Agency..............................................................................................................21 U.S. Bureau of Reclamation..........................................................................................................21 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.......................................................................................................22 U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service..............................................................................23 U.S. Geological Survey..................................................................................................................24 National Weather Service...............................................................................................................24 U.S. Forest Service.........................................................................................................................25 USDA State Emergency Board......................................................................................................26 6.3 Local Governments................................................................................................................................26 Counties..........................................................................................................................................26 Cities ...............................................................................................................................................26 7 Water Administration and Distribution..................................................................................................................27 7.1 Water Distribution Authority................................................................................................................27 7.2 Irrigation Districts and Canal Companies.............................................................................................28 Unincorporated Mutual Ditch Groups ..........................................................................................28 Incorporated Mutual Ditch or Canal Companies..........................................................................28 Irrigation Districts ..........................................................................................................................29 Other Management Groups............................................................................................................29 7.3 Special Water Administrative Actions ..................................................................................................29 7.4 Water Supply Banks...............................................................................................................................30 8 Water Supply Problems...........................................................................................................................................34 8.1 Agriculture .............................................................................................................................................34 8.2 Recreation and Tourism.........................................................................................................................35 8.3 Municipal, Domestic, and Livestock Water..........................................................................................37 8.4 1988 Irrigation Survey...........................................................................................................................37