How are water rights addressed in regard to Wild and Scenic River and wilderness designations?
Water rights for the Wild and Scenic rivers will be reserved in accordance with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the water laws of the State of Idaho, and the Owyhee Initiative Agreement. The Owyhee Initiative Agreement limits the quantity of water that can be diverted from streams designated as wild, scenic, and recreational rivers. Cumulative future withdrawals are limited to 10 percent of the mean monthly flows for the high water months of March, April, May and June. No water can be diverted from ground or surface water sources from July to February unless the appropriation pre-dates Wild and Scenic River designation. The exception is diversion of .02 cfs or less for domestic or de minimis stock water purposes, as defined by Idaho law. These very small appropriations are primarily non-consumptive and are considered too minor to affect instream values. The Owyhee Initiative Agreement also prohibits future out-of-basin water transfers and on-stream water storage projects. The potential
