Idaho § 42-1734B - Board procedures for adopting a comprehensive state water plan

§ 42-1734B. Board procedures for adopting a comprehensive state water plan

(1) Prior to the adoption of the comprehensive state water plan or any component of the comprehensive plan, the board shall conduct hearings in the manner provided in section 42-1734A , Idaho Code.

(2) In the preparation, adoption, and implementation of the comprehensive state water plan, the board shall encourage the cooperation, participation, and assistance of state agencies. The board also shall solicit economic, energy, environmental, and other technical studies and recommendations from state agencies with particular expertise. All agencies of the state of Idaho shall cooperate with the board by providing requested existing information and studies pertaining in any manner to any matters which are the subject of this act. The board shall have discretion to balance all factors relevant to the formulation, adoption and implementation of the comprehensive state water plan and implementation and the designation of protected rivers.

(3) Any state agency may petition the board to amend the comprehensive state water plan. The board shall review any petition filed pursuant to this section within six (6) months after it is filed and shall either commence action to amend the comprehensive plan or set forth its reasons for denying the request in writing.

(4) All state agencies shall exercise their duties in a manner consistent with the comprehensive state water plan. These duties include but are not limited to the issuance of permits, licenses, and certifications; provided, however, that nothing in this chapter shall be construed to affect the authority of any state agency with respect to activities not prohibited by the comprehensive state water plan. The designation of a waterway as a natural or recreation river shall not preclude the department of environmental quality from establishing water quality standards for such waterway.

(5) When a comprehensive state water plan is adopted, copies thereof shall be filed in the office of the governor and director of the department of water resources, and published and distributed generally.

(6) The comprehensive state water plan and any component thereof developed for a particular waterway or waterways is subject to review and amendment by the legislature of the state of Idaho by law at the regular session immediately following the board’s adoption of the comprehensive state water plan or component thereof.

(7) The board shall submit all subsequent changes to the legislature as provided in section 7, article XV, of the constitution of the state of Idaho. The board shall also use best efforts to provide notice of all subsequent changes to each member of the legislature on or before the first day of the regular legislative session following the change.

(8) The board shall review and reevaluate Part A of the comprehensive state water plan, or any one (1) or more of the component water plans comprising Part B of the comprehensive state water plan, upon the adoption of a concurrent resolution of the legislature directing the review or requesting a specific amendment to the plan. The board also may undertake the review in response to a petition for amendment filed pursuant to subsection (3) of this section, or upon the board’s own initiative, as determined necessary by the board. Amendments to Part A or Part B of the comprehensive state water plan shall be adopted in the same manner as the original plan.

(9) A protected river designated by the board shall not become a final part of the comprehensive state water plan until approved by law. If the legislature does not approve a protected river by law at the regular session immediately following the board’s designation of such protected river, then the designation of such protected river shall terminate and any prohibition or terms and conditions imposed on such protected river pursuant to subsection (5) or (6) of section 42-1734A , Idaho Code, shall be terminated ten (10) days following the end of the session. The failure to approve a protected river shall not operate to invalidate a comprehensive plan or component thereof. Nothing in this subsection shall prevent the legislature, however, from approving such protected river and reinstituting or modifying such prohibitions or terms and conditions in a subsequent session.

(10) After adoption of a comprehensive plan or component thereof, the board shall administer the implementation of the plan.

[42-1734B, added 1988, ch. 370, sec. 5, p. 1098; am. 1998, ch. 63, sec. 2, p. 223; am. 2017, ch. 131, sec. 1, p. 308; am. 2025, ch. 47, sec. 12, p. 232.]