ID H0412

Director of the Idaho Department of Water Resources must be a licensed civil or hydraulic agricultural engineer with at least 5 years of active practice; a registered geologist with at least 5 years of active hydrology practice; or a hydrologist with a bachelor's or advanced degree in hydrology from an accredited college or university and at least 5 years of experience in surface water and ground water modeling, water delivery, and water measurement.

Director must demonstrate experience and expertise in interpreting and applying Idaho water law and be familiar with irrigation and other water use practices in Idaho.

Director may delegate duties to department employees when necessary for efficient administration and shall organize the department into divisions and administrative subunits.

Director and department employees may make reasonable entry upon state lands for investigations, surveys, and other purposes necessary to carry out legal duties.

Public Utilities Commission approvals for hydropower water rights sales, assignments, or transfers require director-imposed conditions to prevent injury to existing water rights and protect the public interest.