The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.
This familiar saying applies to many aspects of life, but in the state of Idaho today, it is especially relevant to water infrastructure.
Last month marked the 50th anniversary since the collapse of the Teton Dam, a reminder of both the devastation the disaster caused and the storage gap it was intended to fill. And, in tough water years like this one, we could really use that extra 288,000 acre-feet Teton Dam was built to hold.
For those who lived through the 1976 crisis, this milestone anniversary was a time of reflection – reflection on the devastation, community coming together and the years of rebuilding that followed. But it has also rekindled an age-old question: Will the Teton Dam be rebuilt?
During the Idaho Cattle Association's (ICA) summer meeting in June, water infrastructure was a key topic of discussion, and the Teton Dam was inevitably part of the conversation. Among those addressing the issue was Sen. Kevin Cook (R-Idaho Falls), who sponsored Senate Joint Memorial 101 in 2025, which included exploring the reconstruction of the Teton Dam.
“Teton Dam is an option,” Cook told ICA attendees. “It’s not ‘We either do the Teton Dam or not,’ but it is an option.”
Other possibilities that were mentioned included raising the Jackson Lake, Minidoka, Island Park and American Falls dams, as well as the construction of a new dam in other locations. Each option presents its own opportunities, costs and challenges.
Cook also proposed picking a year and working backward to get some of these projects going. He even went as far as selecting the year 2100. The problem with that is we need something done like … yesterday.
In 2025, the Idaho House of Representatives passed the Idaho Department of Water Resources budget with $30 million in new funding for water infrastructure projects. While the investment marked a significant step forward, it barely scratches the surface of what will be needed. As panelist Jeff Raybould, chairman of the Idaho Water Resource Board remarked during the meeting, “It’s only a drop in the bucket.”
Raybould and panelist Paul Arrington, executive director of the Idaho Water Users Association, pointed to the ongoing Anderson Ranch Dam raise as an example. One would think of this project as a more of a “cost-effective” option because it expands existing infrastructure. However, the project, which extends the dam’s height by 6 feet, is expected to cost approximately $150 million. This hefty price tag illustrates the scale of investment required to expand Idaho's water storage capacity. But as Arrington reminded, “It’s never going to get less expensive than it is now.”
While the best time to invest in Idaho’s water future may have been 20 years ago, the second-best time is now. Let’s get to work, Idaho.
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