Mr. Wyseth — The chair referred to Eric Wyseth by name when asking for questions.
Dr. Kendra Kaiser — Introduced as the next presenter.
Dr. Kendra Kaiser — Responds that the Ponderay project can inform adaptive reservoir management elsewhere in the state.
Kendrick Heiser — Introduced himself as director of the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute and a faculty member at the University of Idaho.
Mark Sauter — The chair directs questions to Representative Sauter.
Mark Sauter — Raises water storage as a priority and notes Senator Cook has focused on it.
Mark Sauter — Representative Mark Sauter introduced House Bill 569, a water-skiing bill, and explained that it would expand where water skiing is allowed on public waters while adding updated requirements and time/date restrictions. He described the background and safety rationale, including limitations of slalom-only skiing and the bill’s allowance for driver-skier combinations in certain situations. He also noted that the activity would be limited to May 15 through September 10 before 9 a.m., and that the bill would not permit tubing or surfing. He then moved to send House Bill 569 to the floor with a due pass recommendation, after which the chair asked whether there were any questions and indicated Representative Sauter would carry the bill on the floor.
Kevin Cook — Referenced as having focused on water storage.
Steve Miller — Representative Miller asked to be copied on the presentation slides and requested the project application and selection lists. He also asked whether the results of the projects would be posted online or otherwise made accessible so members could review the information and understand the kinds of projects being done.
Steve Miller — Representative Miller questioned why the bill did not include a specific gallons-per-day limit for domestic use, then followed up by asking how in-house versus outside water use would be monitored and enforced if such limits were applied. The discussion centered on defining and enforcing domestic water-use restrictions.
Steve Miller — His earlier question about changing the daily limit is referenced.
Rob Beiswenger — Asked how the 32-member board is selected and how the executive board is composed.
Matt Weaver — Identified himself as director of the Department of Water Resources and praised IWRI's recent reinvigoration.
Charlie Shepherd — Asked Matt Weaver to respond to a question about Hells Canyon water releases and jet boat safety.
Edward Hill — Representative Shepard asked whether changing the timing of water releases would affect the department or cause harm. Director Weaver responded that he would plead the Fifth, said he was unprepared to answer the question at the podium, and said he would follow up offline. He also noted that power and electricity are involved in the issue.
Dori Healey — Asked that Representative Manwaring's House Bill 567 be handled separately because it deals with the Department of Water Resources.
Dori Healey — Explained why House Bill 567 should be handled now and said the sponsor was available for questions.
Dori Healey — Named as part of the off-the-floor discussion while the committee was at ease.
Dori Healey — Withdrew her objection, allowing the committee to proceed with holding the bills temporarily.
Dustin Manwaring — Representative Manwaring is introduced as the sponsor of House Bill 567 and noted as being present to answer questions. The discussion then continues with a request for him to meet in the hall during the committee at ease.
unidentified written testifier — The chair identifies an unnamed witness who registered to testify in writing on House Bill 569, noting that the person submitted written testimony rather than speaking in person.
Douglas Pickett — Representative Douglas Pickett introduced Senate Bill 1222 as a follow-up to earlier domestic water legislation and explained that the prior law regulating domestic water right usage needed clarification based on feedback from Idaho water users. He described the bill as making a few definitional changes, including defining a subdivision as a development with five lots, and emphasized that the bill is forward-looking rather than retroactive. In response to questions, he clarified that the bill does not change water allocations but only definitions, and that a separate gallons-per-day limit was unnecessary because the type of use is defined. He concluded by explaining that the bill is intended to limit outside use and focus on household use in critical groundwater areas.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Representative Mickelsen participates in a brief committee discussion on Senate Bill 1222, first moving the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation and then asking for clarification about water-related requirements for subdivisions with diversion points and measurement devices. She notes that Paul Arrington from the Idaho Water Users is available to help explain the issue and continues the exchange with the director before the motion is later referenced again.
— Representative Van der Wara asks for clarification on the domestic well rules, specifically whether in-home water use is subtracted from outside use. The exchange is brief and directly connected to the response that follows.
Jerald Raymond — Representative Pickett explained that limiting use to household use in critical groundwater areas could eliminate the need for expensive and burdensome metering while benefiting consumptive use, though he noted the current bill does not address that issue and that the language remains the same as last year. He then clarified that this was likely the point being raised in the question and concluded by thanking the chair.
Jerald Raymond — No further questions were directed to him before the vote.
Paul Arrington — Paul Arrington of the Idaho Water Users Association was connected remotely after some audio and connection issues, then testified in support of Senate Bill 1222. He discussed the stakeholder group involved in drafting the bill, explained how the 13,000-gallon-per-day domestic use limit is measured and monitored, described the enforcement process if a domestic exemption violation is suspected, and noted that although the group discussed lowering the limit further, they could not reach agreement and instead pursued narrower changes that still improved protections.
Mr. Arrington — Thanked for testimony after questions concluded.
Judy Boyle — Representative Judy Boyle introduced Senate Joint Memorial 108, explaining its purpose regarding livestock depredation claims on federal land. Shortly afterward, the chair briefly paused for her to return to her seat and then noted that she would carry the memorial on the floor.
Todd Lakey — Senator Lakey is identified as a sponsor on the memorial, including through the Federalism Committee.
Britt Raybould — Called on by the chair in response to questions.
Eric Wyseth — Explained that the issue is timing of water release, not total volume, and described changes in daily water cycles.
Eric Wyseth — Clarified that the goal is to have water released during daytime hours, not to increase total water volume.
Eric Wyseth — Identified the film as 'the 3100' and described it as a multi-episode YouTube series about Idaho rivers and guiding.
Eric Wyseth — Finished describing the 3100 film and its focus on Idaho rivers and guides.
Eric Wyseth — Eric Wyseth introduces himself to the committee as the executive director of the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association and begins the presentation, briefly identifying his role and background with the organization.
Eric Wyseth — Concluded his presentation by inviting questions and reminding members about the wild game dinner from 5 to 8 p.m.