Creation of Water District No. 110

Karl J. Dreher

DirectorIdaho Department of Water Resources

December 5, 2005

Background Information

• 42-602. DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT 42-602. DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES TO SUPERVISE OF WATER RESOURCES TO SUPERVISE WATER DISTRIBUTION WITHIN WATER WATER DISTRIBUTION WITHIN WATER DISTRICTS.DISTRICTS. The director of the department of The director of the department of water resources shall have direction and control water resources shall have direction and control of the distribution of water from all natural water of the distribution of water from all natural water sources within a water district to the canals, sources within a water district to the canals, ditches, pumps and other facilities diverting ditches, pumps and other facilities diverting therefrom. Distribution of water within water therefrom. Distribution of water within water districts created pursuant to section 42-604, districts created pursuant to section 42-604, Idaho Code, shall be accomplished by Idaho Code, shall be accomplished by watermasters as provided in this chapter and watermasters as provided in this chapter and supervised by the director.supervised by the director.

Definitions

Within these sources, a portion of the surface Within these sources, a portion of the surface water can become ground water or vice versa.water can become ground water or vice versa.

The amount of water that can become either The amount of water that can become either ground water or surface water is largely ground water or surface water is largely dependent on ground water levels.dependent on ground water levels.

“Hydraulically connected” surface water and ground water means:

Surface Water Ground Water Connection

YESConnected

WaterTable Stream

NODisconnected

WaterTable

Stream

Timeline for Creating Water District 110

Basins 31 & 32

IDWR Petitions SRBA Court for Interim Admin4/18/05

10 day comment

period

12/15/05

Director’sHearing12/5/05

Address PetitionsFor Reconsideration

(if any)

1/14/06

1/30/06

Water Dist Meeting 4/3/2006

14 day period to submit

Petition forReconsideration

11/24/05

SRBA Court Hearing& Order Signed

7/21/05

10 day wait

2 weekpublication

Send Notice to water users of Hearing & Pub Meeting

Send copy of order to water users, include water district meeting info

11/25/05 T Luke, IDWR

SRBA Court Schedules Hearing

IDWR sends Notice of SRBA Hearing

11/14/05

Final Order SignedBy Director

12/28/05

1/14/06

12/28/06

• Currently not proposing changes to Currently not proposing changes to existing surface water districtsexisting surface water districts

- Opportunity for improvements?- Opportunity for improvements?

Organization Considerations

What does watermaster do?What does watermaster do?

• Direct measurement, reporting, and Direct measurement, reporting, and regulation of ground water diversions not regulation of ground water diversions not already in a water districtalready in a water district- Primarily within the present North - Primarily within the present North Water Measurement DistrictWater Measurement District

Watermaster Duties

• Distribution to & regulation of water rightsDistribution to & regulation of water rights

- monitor for illegal or excessive uses and - monitor for illegal or excessive uses and out-of-priority diversionsout-of-priority diversions

- monitor/enforce mitigation plans where - monitor/enforce mitigation plans where requiredrequired

- use or implement computer programs - use or implement computer programs for for distribution and regulation of water usedistribution and regulation of water use

Watermaster Duties

• ReportingReporting

- Annual diversion reports- Annual diversion reports

- Budget reports - Budget reports

(includes annual use, assessments, (includes annual use, assessments, and financial review)and financial review)

Watermaster Duties

• Water rights administrationWater rights administration

- address ownership issues- address ownership issues

- water right transfers/exchanges- water right transfers/exchanges

- GPS/identification of diversions - GPS/identification of diversions

- assure diversion-water right links- assure diversion-water right links

Watermaster Duties

• IDWR will fund watermaster IDWR will fund watermaster administration & regulation for two administration & regulation for two years, if elected watermasteryears, if elected watermaster

- Measurement costs are ongoing - Measurement costs are ongoing

Water District Requirements

• Elect watermaster, advisory committee, and Elect watermaster, advisory committee, and treasurer treasurer

- maintain and review financial records- maintain and review financial records

- adopt budget- adopt budget

- comply with employment requirements- comply with employment requirements

Water District Requirements

• Maintain office contact/presenceMaintain office contact/presence- phone contact, access to standard equipment- phone contact, access to standard equipment

• Minimum PC & communication requirementsMinimum PC & communication requirements

- cell, fax, DSL or other broadband link- cell, fax, DSL or other broadband link

-- GIS/GPS software & experienceGIS/GPS software & experience

- other PC experience- other PC experience

Water District Requirements

Water District Costs?Water District Costs?

• No administrative costs first 2 yearsNo administrative costs first 2 years• Administrative costs after 2 years?Administrative costs after 2 years?

clerical duties limited to part time? clerical duties limited to part time? shared with other water district(s)?shared with other water district(s)?

Water District Requirements

• Today’s hearingToday’s hearing

• Create steering committee Create steering committee

- draft resolutions for annual meeting- draft resolutions for annual meeting

• annual meeting – spring, 2006annual meeting – spring, 2006

Next Steps

Questions?