"During its June 12, 2006 regular meeting, this board heard from staff regarding the conditions that would be necessary to trigger a supply/demand imbalance declaration within the IID service area. Today, we are asking you to make such a declaration and request that staff return to you with a system of equitable distribution for adoption and implementation in January 2008.

We are not asking the board to vote on equitable distribution today; instead we request that you declare the SDI for 2008 and set in motion the process of developing a system of apportionment for your consideration and action during a subsequent board meeting.

Following are the principles of equitable distribution that will serve as the basis for the plan we bring back to you.

Principles of equitable distribution:

1. The individual farm unit will serve as the basis of measurement for the apportionment of water.
2. The straight-line method will be used for the apportionment of water.
3. IID will maintain a separate supply of last resort to ensure basic fairness among all water users. The district will also operate an internal water exchange to facilitate the movement of water between users, controlling every aspect of that exchange (including any financial transaction).
4. The equitable distribution plan presented to the IID board will accommodate both agricultural and non-agricultural water usage. The parameters for the program will be consistent with these recommended in the Hanemann and Brooks final study submitted to the board on November 28, 2006.

The period of time covered by the supply/demand imbalance (SDI) declared by the board will begin on January 2, 2008 and last through the year. If it is extended beyond the year, a separate vote by the board will be required; similarly, if at any time during the course of the year the SDI is no longer needed, the board may act to rescind its implementation. "

- Charlie Hosken, Former IID General Manager statement on June 19, 2007 to the IID Board of Directors prior to SDI  determination for 2007.

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In December 2007, though improved end-of-year water use projections based in part on rainfall events caused IID Board of Directors to rescind their earlier SDI declaration. While this negated the need for formal implementation of an Equitable Distribution Program, staff was directed to continue its Equitable Distribution implementation efforts and proceed with an equitable distribution pilot project in 2008.