States findings of the Legislature and supports various water projects within Water District 1.

LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO Sixty-eighth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2026 IN THE SENATE SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 116 BY RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION1 STATING FINDINGS OF THE LEGISLATURE RELATED TO WATER DISTRICT 1 AND SUPPORT-2 ING VARIOUS ASSOCIATED PROJECTS.3 Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:4 WHEREAS, Water District 1 of the Idaho Water Resource Board (IWRB),5 encompassing the Panhandle region including Boundary, Bonner, Kootenai,6 Shoshone, Benewah, Latah, Clearwater, Nez Perce, Lewis, and Idaho counties,7 is a region of vital hydrologic importance to the State of Idaho; and8 WHEREAS, the efficient management of water resources in District 1 is9 essential for maintaining the region's agricultural productivity, sustain-10 ing the Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, managing flood risks in the Kootenai and11 St. Joe River Valleys, and preserving the recreational and economic value of12 North Idaho's lakes and rivers; and13 WHEREAS, IWRB has identified, funded, and overseen numerous projects14 critical to modernizing aging infrastructure and ensuring long-term water15 sustainability in the region.16 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the Second Regular Ses-17 sion of the Sixty-eighth Idaho Legislature, the Senate and the House of Rep-18 resentatives concurring therein, that the Legislature hereby formally rec-19 ognizes the importance of and supports the continuation of existing and fu-20 ture water projects in Water District 1.21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature supports the continued de-22 velopment and active management of the Priest Lake Outlet Dam Modification23 in Bonner County and recognizes that IWRB's oversight of this structure is24 indispensable for maintaining statutorily established lake levels, thereby25 safeguarding North Idaho's tourism economy, protecting shoreline property26 values, and ensuring adequate downstream flows for the Priest River ecosys-27 tem.28 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature prioritizes the Lewiston29 Orchards Irrigation District's Lower Clearwater Exchange Project in Nez30 Perce County as a model of regional water sustainability and acknowledges31 the critical nature of this exchange, currently in the design phase, which32 shifts reliance from unstable ground water sources and the Sweetwater Creek33 system to the Clearwater River, thereby stabilizing the local aquifer and34 benefitting Endangered Species Act listed steelhead populations.35 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature commends the successful36 deployment of Aging Infrastructure Grants to vital agricultural systems,37 specifically recognizing the Burnett Water Users Association project in38 Clearwater County. The rehabilitation of this diversion and conveyance39 infrastructure is declared essential for preventing catastrophic failure40 and ensuring that water rights remain beneficially used to support the rural41 economy of the region.42

2 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature acknowledges the critical1 modernization efforts undertaken by the Hayden Lake Irrigation District in2 Kootenai County and affirms that the replacement of failing pipelines and3 the improvement of pumping efficiency are necessary actions to reduce energy4 costs and protect the water quality of the Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, which5 serves as the primary drinking water source for the rapidly growing populace6 of the Spokane-Rathdrum region.7 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature declares the projects8 herein identified as vital to the strategic interests of District 1 as9 they, among other benefits, secure economic stability for agricultural and10 high-tech industries, preserve the recreational tax base of the region's11 lakes, and provide essential protections for sole-source aquifers.12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature recognizes that the main-13 tenance of water security requires a sustained commitment to future invest-14 ment, particularly as District 1 faces the compounding pressures of rapid15 population growth and aging infrastructure, and that proactive funding for16 planning, modernization, and aquifer management is fiscally responsible17 and essential to prevent the significantly higher costs associated with de-18 ferred maintenance and emergency response.19 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature supports the continued ap-20 propriation of funds to IWRB to ensure the completion and long-term viabil-21 ity of these critical projects in Water District 1.22