WASHINGTON—Today, Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson highlighted the inclusion of $3,853,430 in funding for the Idaho Water Center Project in Boise, Idaho, at his request through Community Project Funding (CPF) in the Fiscal Year 2025 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. 

“In Idaho, we know how valuable water is to our economy and way of life,” said Rep. Simpson. “However, to ensure future generations can adequately address agricultural, urban, and rural water needs, we must invest in critical infrastructure. This funding will support the Idaho Water Center, equipping it to gather vital water quantity and quantity data for future water use. I am proud to partner with the University of Idaho in supporting this timely and much-needed project.”

“We are thankful for the support from Congressman Simpson for the expanded development of the Idaho Water Center in Boise.  With this investment, we will centralize and collate valuable data from the state and over 70 University of Idaho researchers located across Idaho who are focused on solving water issues. This information will help legislators, agencies and developers better plan for and manage this precious Idaho resource,” said Dr. Christopher Nomura, Vice President for Research and Economic Development at the University of Idaho.

This funding would be used to develop the Idaho Water Center which would become a comprehensive data collection and data center in Boise. This funding would be used to upgrade infrastructure and equipment for the Idaho Water Center.  These improvements are necessary for the center's success as a data center for water activities across Idaho. The upgraded center and data facility will be managed by researchers at the University of Idaho and will aid communities by helping address issues related to flooding, stream erosion through agricultural land and urban areas, river infrastructure, fish habitat assessment, evaluation of groundwater and surface water interactions for water availability, and the filling of reservoirs with sediment that reduces their power generating capacity, flood control, and irrigation water storage potential.   Data will be provided from facilities installed both in the Water Center and throughout Southern Idaho. This project will also make needed room and facility upgrades while also building adjacencies that will allow the Idaho Water Data Center to provide data to stakeholders in order to make informed water decisions for the state of Idaho. 

Despite claims that CPF projects are "wasteful earmarks," Community Project Funding gives Members of Congress like Congressman Simpson the opportunity to bring Idaho tax dollars back home for Idaho priorities. These projects fill a clear and present need in communities across Idaho and enjoy broad community support. The federal dollars designated for CPF projects exist within existing budget limits. Rather than that money going to fund projects in different states, CPF projects give Idahoans a critical voice in determining where budgeted funding goes.

As Idaho’s only appropriator, Rep. Simpson has a unique opportunity to fight for Idaho’s priorities and ensure Idahoans’ hard-earned tax dollars return to Idaho.

The Idaho Water Center Project is a part of the Fiscal Year 2025 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. This measure has been approved by the House Appropriations Committee.