IDAHO WATER USERS ASSOCIATION, INC.

SPRING BOARD MEETING

WESTON PLAZA – TWIN FALLS, IDAHO

MAY 18, 2000

MINUTES

President Henry Weick opened the meeting at 10:17 a.m. President Weick reported on his trip to Washington, D.C. along with Ex. Dir. Chapman, Lynn Tominaga, Norm Semanko and others who met and lobbied members of Congress and staff. There are two items of interest and they are flow augmentation and the Warren Act. He got the feeling that NMFS has lost their credibility. IWUA and our contacts (NWRA) have good relations in D.C. Norm Semanko, Scott Campbell and Roger Ling expanded on the Warren Act and discussed a meeting they had with Bill McDonald.

Executive Director Chapman reported on office activities and the budget, which was included in each packet. The summer seminar is coming up and we’ve added a half day workshop on Thursday morning on water right transfers since there seems to be a lot of confusion and questions regarding filing transfers. The golf tournament will be on Thursday afternoon with the full seminar being held all day on Friday, June 30^th. He added that the Bureau of Reclamation had recently sponsored a workshop on voluntary transfers of water in Bureau projects. Since the issue may be important to us, he suggested that a similar workshop be held in Boise. The Board concurred.

President Weick reported that the Executive Committee had agreed to administer grant money for a water quality testing program on the Boise River and that the Executive Committee also agreed to sign a contract for the Ag Water Safety Program who was hiring a public relations firm to update the program.

Executive Director Chapman reported on legislative activities in Ted Diehl’s absence. We had a successful session with several bills we supported passing while others were held up. The frivolous water right protest bill passed the House but was held in the Senate and the bill regarding refiling of water right applications that we opposed also died. Norm Young stated that IDWR had seven (7) bills proposed and all passed with the held of IWUA. The statute controlling flow augmentation was reviewed during the last three days of the session because of the mediation process that is on going. This legislation was nearly identical to the previous bill but with only a one year renewal period.

Rex Barrie reported on activities of the Rural & Urban Affairs Committee. As previously noted a contract has been signed with a public relations firm to update the TV and radio spots regarding water safety. Eastern Idaho members had been contacted about starting up the program in their area but not enough money was received so the money was returned asking them to consider putting it in their budget for next year. The Committee will be meeting on July 28^th at the Carmela Winery to discuss these and other items of interest.

Randy Bingham reported on the Education Committee. The video produced in conjunction with the Bureau of Reclamation called "Spirits of Irrigation" was completed and mailed out to each general member of IWUA. It was also used during Water Awareness Week in the Magic Valley. The video was designed for sixth graders as an educational tool to be used at schools. If additional copies are needed they can be purchased from the Association office. The Ag Water Safety program has started showing in the Magic Valley area; the ditchrider and applicators workshops were well attended; the Water Law Seminar is coming up the end of June and the NWRA Western Water Seminar will be held in August in Sun Valley.

Norm Semanko and Roger Ling reported on NWRA activities. Norm reviewed the NWRA Summit that was held in Las Vegas during February. At the Summit, it was decided to expand the advocacy program to include oversight of important court cases, as well as Congress and the federal agencies. To oversee these activities, a Federal Affairs Committee was appointed which Norm was asked to chair, and a new committee structure is also being developed. Norm and Roger also reported on the Federal Water Seminar held in Washington, D.C. during April, including lobbying efforts on flow augmentation and various legislation. Roger asked that if there are any ideas for resolutions to please get them to him as soon as possible since the Policy Development Committee will be meeting in August at the Sun Valley meeting.

Roger Ling gave an update on SRBA issues. He stated that until the Judge Wood disqualification issues is settled that not much will get solved. The SRBA Court and Coalition are proceeding on reservation claims, conjunctive management issues, recovery of project and drain water issues and stockwater claims on federal lands. He reported that he is restricted from commenting on mediation issues and the 2000 Biological Opinion from NMFS is being processed. Scott Campbell stated that the Deer Flat case has been appealed and is set for court in the fall.

The Board of Directors then went into Executive Session to discuss the issue of hiring a new Executive Director. After discussion a motion was made to hire Norm Semanko commensurate with the recommendation of the Executive Committee as Executive Director and General Counsel by Ron Carlson. The motion was seconded by Jim Hudson and passed.

The meeting adjourned for lunch at 12:28 p.m. and reconvened at 1:15 p.m.

Judge Daniel Eismann then addressed the board and answered questions regarding his qualifications regarding the position of Idaho Supreme Court Justice.

Jim Wrigley reported on the Idaho Water Resource Board’s water project financing program. The Board will publish brochures and other written information later this summer, which will be furnished to the Board and IWUA.

Executive Director Chapman then reported on ESA activities. As reported earlier the 2000 Biological Opinion draft report was supposed to be out in 1999 but should be available the end of May with the final report out in July. The big question is whether or not the upper Snake River basin system will be included as part of the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPW). The Corps of Engineers' EIS came out earlier and the hearings ended up being more like a carnival with people dressed up in salmon costumes. IWUA circulated a petition to all general members regarding flow augmentation as a recovery tool. Those were forwarded on to the Corps, the Idaho congressional delegation and will also be sent to the Governor with over 1,400 signatures. The Multispecies Framework process was then discussed. Hearings will be held this summer throughout the state. It appears that Alternatives 5 and 6 are the ones presently being considered which contain recommendations of the status quo on flow augmentation. The Northwest Power Planning Council is modifying their Fish and Wildlife Plan. IWUA is working with several coalitions throughout the Pacific Northwest, United for Fish and Wildlife, Idaho Council on Industry and Environment, CORE group, Columbia River Forum, Governor's office and Federal Instream Flow Coalition. The Coalition for Idaho Water that has been sitting idle for the last several years is setting up a workshop in September 2000 on alternative recovery techniques other than breaching and flow. The Technical Management Team group is battling with the Corps of Engineers. The Corps predicted that we would have a lot of water this spring and that hasn't come true so now the TMT wants to raise the cap on flows at Milner and with more water taken from Brownlee and Dworshak.

Executive Director Chapman then reported on the Joint Secretary’s Meeting that will be held in June for IWUA general member secretaries. Rick Waitley will be giving a talk on time management. E.D. Chapman felt that since this was a benefit to IWUA members that the Association could sponsor the meeting up to $400. Dan Shewmaker moved, seconded by Vern Case to pay costs up to $400. The motion carried.

President Weick then asked if the board had read the minutes from the March board meeting that was included in the packet and entertained a motion for approval. Vern Case moved, seconded by Dennis Lammey, to approve the minutes as written. The motion carried.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 2:06 p.m.

SPRING BOARD MEETING

WESTON PLAZA – TWIN FALLS, IDAHO

MAY 18, 2000

ATTENDANCE

DISTRICT 1 Keith Erikson

DISTRICT 2 Ron Carlson

DISTRICT 3 Terrell Sorensen

DISTRICT 4 Dan Darrington

DISTRICT 5 Dan Shewmaker

DISTRICT 6 Berwyn Mussmann

DISTRICT 7 Clyde Hutton

DISTRICT 8 Golden Keetch

DISTRICT 9 Mitchell Sorensen

DISTRICT 10 Mike Faulkner

DISTRICT 11 Vern Case

DISTRICT 12 Henry Weick

DISTRICT 13 Dennis Lammey

DISTRICT 14 Marcia Herr

DISTRICT 15 Jim Hudson

DISTRICT 16 Harold Mohlman

DISTRICT 17 Ralph May

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Scott Campbell

NWRA DIRECTOR Norm Semanko

NWRA POLICY DEV. COMM. Roger Ling

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Sherl Chapman

EDUCATION COMM. CHAIR Randy Bingham

RURAL & URBAN AFFAIRS COMM. CHAIR Rex Barrie

GUESTS:

Norm Young - Alternate

Lynn Harmon - Alternate

Jack Hirai - Alternate

Scott Breeding - Alternate

Judge Daniel Eismann

Jim Wrigley

Karen Edwards