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BPA is working on a pilot acquisition project to test the concept of 

 acquiring water rights for instream flow. Although the amount of water is 

 small, the Skyline project, located in eastern Oregon, will allow us to test 

 the ability to protect instream water rights. The Skyline Project will give 

 us experience in assessing the economic and environmental costs and 

 benefits associated with water acquisitions. We will work with the local 

 community to mitigate the impacts fi'om reallocating water fi'om agriculture 

 to instream flows for fish and power generation. If Skyline and similar 

 pilot projects demonstrate that water acquisitions can deliver flow 

 augmentation which significantly benefit fish survival, we will pursue other 

 acquisition projects throughout the region. 



BPA also promotes water and energy conservation through its Irrigation 

 and Conservation Acquisition Agreement (WaterWise Program). The 

 objective of the program is to acquire cost-effective energy savings in 

 irrigated agriculture. Through this program, BPA provides funds for 

 irrigation system evaluations, design work for new and expanding systems, 

 and financial incentives for efficiency improvements to upgrade existing 

 irrigation system. BPA also provides funds for irrigation management 

 activities. From 1982 - 1992, estimated energy savings for this program 

 have been 8.9 average megawatts. In Idaho, BPA is targeting additional 

 energy savings of .3 average megawatts per year for the next decade. 



One significant action addressing regional water conservation and use has 

 already taken place. The Western Water Policy Review Act of 1992 (P.L. 



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