By JOHN O'CONNELL

Capital Press

A proposed update to the Idaho Comprehensive State Water Plan would introduce the use of milestones to gauge progress on meeting water management goals and specify strategies to implement them.

The Idaho Water Resource Board adopted the plan in 1976 and last updated it in 1996. A public comment period on the draft update is scheduled through Sept. 21, and public meetings will be hosted throughout the state from July 18 through Sept. 12.

"It gives us something as a goal to shoot for," said Leonard Beck, who chaired the five-member IDWR subcommittee charged with developing the plan in-house over the past five years. "Before that, we didn't have anything that would measure anything we would try to apply."

Public meetings are scheduled for July 18 in Twin Falls, Aug. 13 in Salmon, Aug. 16 in Soda Springs, Aug. 15 in Idaho Falls, Aug. 30 in Boise, Sept. 6 in Lewiston and Sept. 12 in Coeur d'Alene.

InTo view a copy of the proposed plan go to:

http://www.idwr.idaho.gov/waterboard/WaterPlanning/StateWaterPlanning/State_Planning.htm.