DEQ Seeks Representatives for Walcott Watershed Advisory Group

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Published March 10th, 2026

Detected March 17th, 2026

Summary

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is seeking representatives for the Walcott Watershed Advisory Group (WAG) to fill vacancies. Interested individuals must apply by April 10, 2026, to serve on the group dedicated to restoring and protecting local watersheds.

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What changed

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is issuing a notice to solicit applications for vacant positions on the Walcott Watershed Advisory Group (WAG). The WAG is responsible for developing water quality improvement plans, identifying pollution sources, and recommending actions to protect the health of the Lake Walcott, Goose Creek, and Raft River watersheds. Representation is sought from diverse interest areas including agriculture, local government, environmental groups, and industry.

Interested parties must submit their applications to Jake Barnes via email or phone by April 10, 2026. Members are expected to serve two-year terms and attend quarterly meetings. This is an opportunity for regulated entities and stakeholders to participate directly in water quality management efforts within the specified Idaho counties.

What to do next

Submit application to DEQ for Walcott Watershed Advisory Group by April 10, 2026
Review interest areas for potential representation on the WAG

Source document (simplified)

March 10, 2026
News Releases Contact: Jake Barnes, Water Quality Analyst, jake.barnes@deq.idaho.gov

TWIN FALLS – The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) seeks representatives to fill vacancies on the Walcott Watershed Advisory Group (WAG).

The Walcott WAG is a group of citizens from a diverse set of interests dedicated to successful restoration and protection of the health of the Lake Walcott, Goose Creek, and Raft River watersheds. These watersheds cover Cassia, Minidoka, Power, Lincoln, Butte, Blaine, Twin Falls, and Oneida counties, from which the watershed advisory group seeks to have diverse representation.

The WAG is currently seeking representation from the following interest areas:

Dryland and Rangeland
Local Governments
Recreation—Public Interest
Operators—Confined Livestock
Electrical Power Generation
Environmental
Food Processors
Irrigated Agriculture
Irrigation Districts, Canal Companies, Flood and Drainage Districts
Operations Municipalities
The group meets quarterly, and members are asked to serve at least 2-year terms. Responsibilities include working with DEQ on the following deliverables:
Developing water quality improvement plans known as total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for streams, lakes, and rivers with degraded water quality conditions within the watershed.
Helping identify contributing pollution sources in the watershed.
Recommending specific actions needed to effectively control sources of pollution to the water bodies.
Helping develop and implement a plan to meet water quality targets identified in the TMDLs.
Anyone interested in serving on the WAG should contact Jake Barnes at (208) 736-2190 or jake.barnes@deq.idaho.gov by 5 p.m. on April 10, 2026, MT.  The next meeting is yet to be scheduled, however it will take place in May 2026, at the Bureau of Reclamation Upper Snake River Field Office (470 22nd Street Heyburn, Idaho). This meeting is open to the public.