Annual Irrigators Meeting May 19
Water District 1 staff will address questions and concerns about water supply

Driggs, ID – With snowpack levels at near-record lows, Teton Valley water users are anxiously watching the weather to anticipate how much water will be available during the upcoming irrigation season. Tony Olenichak, program director for Water District #1, will address your questions and concerns about water supply on Wednesday,May 19, at 7 PM at the Teton County Courthouse. The presentation is sponsored by Friends of the Teton River.

For the Upper Snake River Basin, including the Teton Basin and the Henry's Fork Basin, 2009/10 has been one of the driest winters on record. As of May 1, snow water equivalent in the Henry’s Fork and Teton Basin was only 57% of average. The only good news is that reservoir levels are above average thanks to a good carryover water supply from last year. That means most people with storage rights in the upper Snake reservoir system will probably have enough water to get through the season. However, here in the Teton Valley, where there are no reservoirs and irrigators depend almost exclusively on natural flow, low snowpack conditions are a major concern.

Tony Olenichak, program manager for Water District 1, was asked by the Idaho Statesman to comment on the upcoming irrigation season. “If you’re totally dependent on storage supply, it won’t be too bad this year.” But, he added, “if you’re totally dependent on natural flow, you have a real big problem.”
On May 19, Olenichak will visit the Teton Valley to discuss the water supply outlook for the coming summer. Whether your acreage is large or small, all water users are encouraged to attend. The presentation will take place in the Commissioners’ Chambers at the new Teton County Courthouse. The meeting room is accessed via the first floor door on the southwest side of the building. For more information, please contact Friends of the Teton River at 208-354-3871, or stop by our office on the 3rd floor of the Colter Building in Driggs.




Megan Hatch
Development and Outreach Associate
Friends of the Teton Water
Phone: 208-354-3871
megan@tetonwater.org
www.tetonwater.org