Dry Winter Raises Questions Of Water Shortage

We have enough water for now, but there are concerns for the future.

Tad Barrie has seen irrigation come a long way one the course of his 26 years in the industry.

“We’re probably going to have to do more and more with less and less,” Barrie said at this year’s Idaho Irrigation Equipment Show in Idaho Falls.

This year’s convention was all about efficiency — getting as much done, while using as little time, energy and water as possible.

Lyle Swank understands the importance of conserving water. He manages Eastern Idaho’s water supply for the Department of Water Management.

“If we have years where we don’t meet the adequate water supply, we need to make sure that the water supplies we do have — we can stretch them to meet the existing irrigation needs,” Swank said.

As far as what we do have, reservoirs in our region have about 71 percent of what they should during this time of year.

Even more of our water supply comes from snow at higher elevations. If this dry winter continues, the reservoirs will begin to dry up.

“Reservoirs will help us through a dry year. That’s why they were built,” Swank said. “We could still catch up from where we’re at now. Long-range weather forecasts — they’re hoping that we could still get some additional snow pack.”