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TESTIMONY OF THE IDAHO WATER USERS ASSOCIATION, INC. 



September 24, 1993 



Pages 



I've gone into detail on this issue because it is a significant part 

 of the salmon strategy adopted by the Council and it is extremely impor- 

 tant to Idaho irrigators. We believe that the flow augmentation proposed 

 by the plan and the conservation programs designed to obtain a million 

 acre feet of water from Idaho are merely window dressing and the Council 

 should realize that there is no positive, biologically credible impact 

 attributable to flow augmentation. Efforts at expanding flow augmentation 

 continue with those seeking to obtain water pointing to the Council's plan 

 as the guideline without any recognizable effort to assist in recovery by 

 downstream interests. Salmon harvest has been increased, no jeopardy 

 opinions released, gill netting continues and yet we in Idaho are asked to 

 sacrifice our water and energy as a part of good will. Idaho irrigators, 

 it's citizens and it's Legislature have all stepped up to the bar to work 

 cooperatively with other states and other entities in an effort to recover 

 the salmon. We have even adopted language that set aside statutory provi- 

 sions against water export for a three year period in an effort to facili- 

 tate study and evaluation and cooperation on this effort. We have been 

 continually rebuffed by downstream states and federal agencies and now we 

 see the time line for the next drawdown test slipping past the sunset date 

 for our legislation. We would suggest that this may be being done to 

 precipitate a confrontation between Idaho and the other states, industries 

 and federal agencies in an effort to force the issue to litigation. 



The Northwest Power Planning Council has the opportunity to reevaluate 

 the science, reevaluate the programs and hopefully bite the bullet and 

 adopt a plan that will provide positive benefits to anadromous fish while 

 at the same time minimizing impacts to Idaho agriculture, hydropower and 

 resident fish and wildlife. Idaho's irrigators will continue to cooperate 

 if we can be assured that the Council, Congress and agency administrators 

 will also cooperate on an equitable basis in an effort to provide a bal 

 anced recovery plan. However, we are becoming disgruntled and disappoint- 

 ed in the Council's efforts and the opposition of those who would suggest 

 that the simple answer is to take Idaho water. That is not acceptable and 

 will only be detrimental to the ultimate recovery of endangered salmon 

 species. 



Thank you for the opportunity to testify here today and I wish you 

 well in your endeavors. 



Respectfully submitted^ 



Sherl L. Chapman 

 Executive Director 



SLC:kje 



