2005 Idaho Code - 39-3615 — CREATION OF WATERSHED ADVISORY GROUPS

                                  TITLE  39
                              HEALTH AND SAFETY
                                  CHAPTER 36
                                WATER QUALITY
    39-3615.  CREATION OF WATERSHED ADVISORY GROUPS. Basin advisory groups
shall identify representatives of the industries and other interests affected
by the management of water quality within a watershed who are prospective
members of an advisory group for the watershed and shall advise the director
of their findings. The director, upon the advice of the appropriate basin
advisory group, shall name watershed advisory groups which will generally
advise the department on the appropriateness, attainability and status of
existing and designated beneficial uses and water quality criteria within the
watershed, and on the development and implementation of TMDLs and other state
water quality plans, including those specific actions needed to control point
and nonpoint sources of pollution within the watersheds of those water bodies
where designated beneficial uses are not fully supported. Each watershed
advisory group shall be formed early enough to complete consultation, as
provided in section 39-3611(8), Idaho Code, prior to the date the TMDL and any
supporting subbasin assessment is scheduled to be submitted to the United
States environmental protection agency for approval.
    If the members of the watershed advisory group, with the concurrence of
the basin advisory group, advise the director that applicable water quality
standards within the watershed are not attainable or are inappropriate based
upon supporting data, the director shall initiate the process or processes to
assess such standards and to change or remove the standards that are shown by
the assessment to be unattainable or inappropriate, consistent with this
chapter.
    Members of each watershed advisory group shall be representative of the
industries and interests affected by the management of that watershed and
shall, where appropriate, include a representative from each of the following:
agriculture, mining, point source dischargers, forest products, local
government, livestock, Indian tribes (for areas within reservation
boundaries), water-based recreation, environmental interests and the land
managing or regulatory agencies with an interest in the management of that
watershed and the quality of the water bodies within it.
    Members of each watershed advisory group shall serve and shall not be
reimbursed for their expenses during their term of service.