Springing Into Action Governor Butch Otter's Guidance for Maintaining Idaho’s Water Resources Idaho, like many states throughout the western United States, is dependent on irrigation for its agriculture economy. The state’s two main crops, potatoes and sugar beets, require 32 inches of water a year to thrive. With agriculture being the backbone of the state’s economy, efficient and sustainable use of irrigation water supplies is paramount for the success of the state and its farmers. Governor Butch Otter began his public service as a representative for Canyon County in the Idaho House of Representatives in 1973. He has served Idaho as lieutenant governor, United States representative, and most recently as governor. During each of these roles, Governor Otter has played a pivotal role in preserving water for Idaho. In an interview with Ian Lyle, executive vice president of the National Water Resources Association, Governor Otter explained the importance of water to the state he governs. Ian Lyle: How did you originally become involved with agriculture and water?
12
bloom. Irrigation systems today have evolved to make water delivery more efficient and economical for farmers. Ian Lyle: What is the value of water to the land and the agricultural economy in Idaho? Governor Butch Otter: We plan our whole agricultural year around water. Based on our irrigation systems and crop rotations, we know that 32 inches of water is required to raise an acre of potatoes or sugar beets, our two largest crops. When we think we are going to have a short water year, we will grow grain, corn, or something deep-rooted that will chase the water. If a farmer has poor ground where they have a water right, they will move the water from the poor ground and apply it to their good ground. Idaho’s constitution, which was written in 1889, recognizes this as well. We built the dams, irrigation, laterals, and reservoirs. There is a saying in Idaho that goes, “Whiskey is for drinking, and water is for fighting,” and I can attest to the fact that the headgate has been the epicenter of a multitude of battles. Ian Lyle: That brings us to a very interesting topic. Could you talk a little about the groundwater settlement? Governor Butch Otter: In April of 2007, I called a water summit because I noticed real problems on the horizon. IRRIGATION LEADER
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR OTTER.
Governor Butch Otter: My appreciation for water goes as far back as my childhood. I was born to this land. Throughout my life, I grew up on farms and ranches with a family of 11. Today, I live about 8 miles from where I was born. Early on, I can remember chasing 20 inches of water with a shovel and setting tubes. I grew up appreciating that water gave value to the land. In Idaho today, you can buy land for maybe $250 to $300 dollars an acre, but if you put water on it the value rises to $5,000 an acre. There was a time, early in the past century, when we were pretty cavalier about water. In Idaho we wanted to hold on to our water for as long as we could—hence all of our reservoirs and dams. The care we took to add storage was significant. If there was a lake, and room in the watershed, we tried to add 10 to 15 feet on top of that dam. Payette Lake, near McCall, Idaho, exemplifies just that. It is both a natural lake and a storage reservoir. While the primary purpose of building dams was to collect water, people started to use them for recreation and housing sites. We later started to use the falling water to capture power. Today, 60 percent of Idaho’s power comes from our dams. With the miracle of irrigation, I have watched the desert
Governor Butch Otter.
