Proposed Project Revision & Improvement of the Blackfoot River Management

Description

Task 1 – Technical Analysis of Revised BRMP Methods and Equations The BRMP was implemented to account for water use in Basin 27. Tribal, State, and Federal technical representatives have found that equations used in accounting calculations are producing erroneous results. Water operators are therefore not using methodology mandated by the BRMP and the Tribes may be wasting tribal and non-tribal water resources. The formerly relied upon equations are in the process of being revised for the benefit of all water users and will need to be rigorously verified to be accurate for all foreseen managerial and hydrological conditions. Task 2 – Meetings and Negotiations Regular meetings between all stakeholders will be required in order to propose, discuss, and advance BRMP improvements and will involve technical review of proposed plan language and documentation of discussion items. This effort will ultimately result in a revised draft plan that will be presented to decision makers for approval. Task 3 – Water Gage Measurement Quality Control The USGS will take four independent water flow measurements at the Rocky Ford Gage over two days in order to verify measurements taken by the Tribal Water Resource Department (TWRD) and Idaho Power. These measurements will provide the Tribes with data which will assist them in evaluating their efforts and will be incorporated into the BRMP in order to assist them in the development and management of their water resources.

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