This episode of “The Nature of Idaho” features hydrologist Kendra Kaiser, director of the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute, discussing how Idaho studies and manages its water in the face of changing climate, snowpack, and demand. She outlines IWRRI’s role in coordinating statewide and regional research with irrigators, agencies, tribes, and universities, including projects on recycled water, aquifer recharge, and a statewide hydrometeorological monitoring network. Kaiser explains Idaho’s water “bank account” of soil moisture, aquifers, and mountain snowpack, and notes that winter 2026 has average high‑elevation snow but unusually poor low‑elevation snow, raising concerns about low streamflows if late‑season storms don’t materialize. She also describes how land‑use change and conservation influence water budgets, highlights real‑world recycled water projects like Nampa’s irrigation‑supply system, and answers the trivia question that the western U.S. “water year” begins October 1, a date some “water nerds” celebrate with informal gatherings.
The Nature Of Idaho: Idaho Water Resources Research Institute
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