The Courier
NEWS
NRCS Water Supply Outlook
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Idaho has released the January Water Supply Outlook Report, the first for the 2025 Water Year. Streamflow, snowpack, and precipitation data for each basin can be accessed on the NRCS Idaho Snow Survey web page. “The snowpack across Idaho saw impressive gains around the holidays with an atmospheric river event bringing ample moisture to the region. Snowpack improved from 70% to approximately 90% of normal in the Snake River headwaters and Henrys Fork-Teton by January 1,” said Erin Whorton, Water Supply Specialist for NRCS Idaho. “Eastern and southern Idaho experienced 110 to 131% of normal precipitation during December. While the snowpack is looking good, especially compared to this time last year, total water year precipitation remains lower than the snowpack percentages due to the abnormally dry, hot October.” January 1 streamflow forecasts reflect the first of month mountain snowpack and total water year precipitation conditions. In January, NRCS only publishes streamflow forecasts at locations where model confidence is high. For the primary forecast period, streamflow forecasts are near to above normal in Panhandle, Clearwater, Southern Snake and Bear River basins. Reflecting January 1 snowpack conditions, below normal streamflow is expected in the Upper Snake River basin during the April through July runoff period. For information on specific basins, streams and reservoirs, please view the full report online in the January Water Supply Outlook Report: www.nrcs.usda.gov/idaho/snow-survey
News from the Heart of Idaho Camas • Lincoln • Gooding
January 15, 2025
Vol 49 Num 3
Fairfield Considers Annexation
This Thursday, January 16th, the Fairfield City Council will hold a public hearing regarding a 10 acre parcel of land just north of Fairfield on the east side of Soldier Road. The current owners of this property, Suncreek LLC, started the process of developing this property with the city in September of 2023 with an application for annexation. The City of Fairfield has been cautious about annexation because of concerns over the city's wastewater capacity. They asked the developer to submit a preliminary plat to the city's Planning & Zoning Commission as prerequisite to annexation. After several meetings this past year, the P&Z commission gave a recommendation of conditional approval to the preliminary plat on November 12, 2024. The main conditions sited by the P&Z commission were related to access roads to the subdivision and snow removal/storage. Regarding the city's wastewater capacity, City Council consulted the city's engineer, the public works department, and the Idaho DEQ. It was determined that the city has the capacity for an additional 30 to 40 hookups. It was agreed that city would consider approval of the Sun Creek preliminary plat provided that the number of lot did not exceed 30. On December 12, 2024, City Council held a public hearing on the preliminary plat which, if approved, would add 27 lots to the city. However, City Council took no action on the subdivision plat because the land has not yet been annexed into the city. To annex any parcel of land, the City must first decide what zoning the property should be and make changes to the city's Zoning map. The property owners have asked that the entire property be zone R1 which restricts all lots within the subdivision to single-family-dwellings with a minimum lot size of 10,000 square feet. If that zoning is acceptable to the City Council, they can then decided if they wish to annex the property. This Thursday is an opportunity for the public to make comment on the proposed zoning. The council meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. and the hearing will start at about 7:05. If needed, the Council may continue the hearing to their next meeting. Documents and maps regarding this property are on file at the city office (407 Soldier Road) and may be viewed during regular office hours.