Protecting Rivers Dams Wild & Scenic Rivers Boise River Bear River Wood River Legacy Project Water Conservation Water Policy	A River Restored Around 1920, the Big Wood River at Bellevue was diverted from its historic and natural channel and moved into irrigation ditches. Until recently, the Wood River was a broken shadow of the living river it once was. The Wood River Legacy Project aimed to restore this broken legacy and bring back a connected, living river system in the Wood River Valley. Begun in the fall of 2005, this multi-year project is working to restore stream flows to the Big Wood River and Silver Creek and bring these rivers back to life. Wood River Basin residents and property owners initiated the project. The first success of this project occurred in 2007, when Idaho Rivers United worked with diverse interests to pass a state bill to permit the donation of water rights back to the Big Wood River for instream flows. But much groundwork went into getting this legislation passed. 2006 was spent building the necessary coalition of supporters that would give the bill the greatest chance of success in the Legislature and with the Governor. The coalition consisted of conservation interests, farmers, irrigation districts and cities and counties throughout the watershed. The project also received recognition from a number of state agencies that felt its efforts were a new way to address the ongoing conflict between water users. In March of 2007 the Idaho Legislature unanimously passed and Governor Otter signed what is now known as the Wood River Legacy Bill. The remainder of 2007 and the first quarter of 2008 was spent with the "nuts & bolts" of implementing the legislation in order to begin solicitation of water rights and their eventual return to the rivers. A local committee was created to examine potential donations, and operating protocols for the donation process had to be written and approved by the state and the water board. The local committee is now up and running and is reviewing several proposed donations. Looking forward, there is more work to do Next steps include: Evaluate donated water rights to determine the effectiveness of the donation. Continue the public education process and look for more donations. Evaluate the effectiveness of the legislative language and work with the Governor's Office to make any needed changes. Expand efforts to include tributary streams that are cut-off from the Big Wood River or that are de-watered from excessive irrigation. Continue water conservation educational efforts to raise awareness of the effects of excessive water use on our rivers and streams. Continue working at the state level to change Idaho's water policy, to provide greater protection of rivers and streams and to provide a greater flexibility in water management to achieve conservation goals. Working together, we can continue to drive these changes, and leave a living river legacy for generations to come. You can help restore the Big Wood River by becoming a member of Idaho Rivers United today. For more information, or to learn more about how individual water rights owners can donate back to the river, email Kevin Lewis.
	Support Businesses That Support Rivers

1-800-574-7481 | info@idahorivers.org | PO Box 633, Boise, ID 83701 | This site created and donated by SMG