Over the last decade or more, the Conservation Commission has done a significant amount of work with our partners to maintain and improve water quality in Idaho.
TMDL Implementation Plans
The Conservation Commission plays a lead role in developing TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) Implementation Plans to reduce sediment, nutrients, bacteria and other pollutant runoff from agricultural and grazing activities adjacent to streams, lakes or rivers that are on the state 303(d) list of degraded waters.
There are more than 900 water bodies on the 303(d) list in Idaho related to agricultural sediment issues, representing 4,933 miles of streams statewide and American Falls Reservoir on the Snake River.
Commission staff determines the appropriate best management practices (BMPs) to reduce agricultural sediment runoff and local conservation districts work with landowners to install those BMPs over time.
The commission works on TMDL plans year-round to improve Idaho's water quality as there is a backlog of Implementation Plans to prepare. Last year, the commission streamlined the planning process to reduce the time required to complete its work on TMDL plans -- from 18 months per plan, to nine.
By law, all 50 of the state's soil and water conservation districts are required to develop five-year Antidegradation Plans that incorporate BMPs to reduce sediment runoff from agricultural and grazing activities on private lands. Please see the District Five-Year Plans for more detail.
Ground Water Quality Programs
The Conservation Commission works with districts and landowners to reduce ground water pollution from agricultural lands by assisting them with the implementation of BMPs on private lands. This work includes high-intensity nutrient management, precision agriculture, and high-intensity irrigation water management to address high levels of nitrates in ground water in designated priority areas. [link to nitrate map]
In fiscal 2013, the Commission partnered with districts and landowners to install BMPs on 40,606 acres of private land in Idaho, reducing nitrates by 151,020 pounds.
REMINDER: This listing is a free service of IdahoLandCAN.
Water Quality Programs - Idaho is not employed by or affiliated with the Idaho Land Conservation Assistance Network, and the Network does not certify or guarantee their services. The reader must perform their own due diligence and use their own judgment in the selection of any professional.
Contact Water Quality Programs - Idaho
Karie Pappani, TMDL Program Lead
Idaho Soil and Water Conservation Commission
322 E Front Street
Boise, ID 83702