State Seeking Public Comment On Applications For Water Rights

The state is applying for water rights to four rivers in North Idaho and wants public input on its applications.

The Idaho Water Resource Board has applied to establish minimum stream flows on reaches of the Clark Fork, Pend Oreille, St. Joe and St. Maries rivers.

The minimum flows are designed to benefit wildlife habitat, aquatic life and recreation. The board is the only Idaho agency allowed to hold minimum stream flow water rights on behalf of Idaho citizens.

The public hearing on the application for rights on the Clark Fork and Pend Oreille rivers is scheduled for 10 a.m., July 16 at the NRCS Federal Building in Sandpoint.

The minimum flow proposed for the Clark Fork River is 9,335 cubic feet per second. On Pend Oreille River, the minimum flow would be 10,655 cfs from the Albeni Falls Dam to the Idaho state line.

The hearing for the St. Joe and St. Maries river water rights is scheduled for 10 a.m. July 17 at the Washington Water Power office in St. Maries.

The minimum flows set for the St. Joe River are 941 cfs for the winter and spring, and 470 cfs from Aug. 1 through October. The board is asking 141 cfs minimum flows on the St. Maries River from December through July, and 65 cfs from August through November.

Any water rights already established on the rivers would not be affected by the state’s application. The rivers should have plenty of water to accommodate all rights, said Kenneth Knoblock, stream channel specialist with the Idaho Department of Water Resources.

, DataTimes