Snake River Basin Cooperative Study Idaho: Lower Snake, Main Report

Excerpts from the report: The Lower Snake River Basin includes portions of the States of Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. This study included only that part of the Basin within Idaho. In response to requests from State Planning Agencies, Soil Conservation Districts and other local entities that data be inventoried and analyzed on a county basis, parts of the hydrologic boundary were adjusted to follow county lines. Counties included from north to south are Latah, Clearwater, Nez Perce, Lewis, Idaho, Lemhi, and Custer. The study area contains approximately 14,716,000 acres or 22,994 square miles. The purpose of this study was to develop alternative solutions to specific water and related land resource problems of the Snake River Basin through USDA Programs. Problems addressed in the study include erosion, sediment, recreation, agricultural productivity, and wood fiber productivity. Specific objectives of the study focused on (1) Protection of the Land Resource Base, (2) Enhancement of the environment, (3) Improvement of the quality of the Basin's water, (4) Improvement of the outdoor recreation experience, (5) Evaluation of USDA opportunities to improve the economic condition of the Basin