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Show Assure adequate water is reserved in order to maintain the Junction of developed wetlands, both public and private. The State Engineer has been researching the Curlew Valley aquifer system for the past two years and plans to continue the effort into the near future. The collected data was published in 1999 as Hydrologic Data Report No. 2. A public meeting was held in Snowville in February 1999 to apprise valley residents of the research and solicit their comments. A letter was sent to the State of Idaho in February 1999 requesting their cooperation in managing the Curlew Valley ground- water system. The State Engineer is moving ahead with plans to manage the valley's water resources in accordance with available hydrologic data, valid existing water rights, applicable statutes and court decrees. Strategies to protect lake inflows and prevent dam construction in the watershed would require legislative action and are beyond the scope of this plan. Alternative 1.5 B addresses new diversions from the lake. The team considered other areas, however, Locomotive Springs WMA was a high priority. Other areas have adequate water rights. Except for Locomotive Springs WMA, future acquisitions will be considered on a case- by- case basis. DWR will identify future water needs as part of their WMA planning processes. Private wetland landowners should purchase necessary water rights. 1.5 Administration of water rights and supply in GSL drainage basin The public supported acquiring water rights for particular areas ( WMAs and other important habitat) to maintain GSL wetlands and discontinuing new diversions at extremely low lake levels. The public suggested that both should be considered together in the preferred alternative to best address this issue. Mostly conservation- oriented organizations and agencies responded to this resource concern. We agree with acquiring additional water rights for WMAs but the question of suspending water diversions at low lake levels is very complex to deal with in the manner suggested without a comprehensive resource planning framework. Acquisition of water rights should be targeted to specific wetlands. No new water diversions from the lake beginning at 4196 feet should be allowed. More detail is needed in the draft plan. When and how would new diversions be denied or be conditional? How would changing lake levels be accommodated for in this new strategy? How would this strategy accommodate human induced changes on lake level? Acquiring water rights for maintaining wetlands and discontinuing new diversions at low lake levels should be considered together, not as mutually exclusive activities. Only water rights granted after the adoption of this plan would be required to cease diversions at water levels less than 4196 feet; current valid water rights would not be 280 |