Basin Advisory Groups
Basin advisory groups (BAGs) are groups of citizens that advise DEQ's director on water quality objectives within Idaho's six basins.
BAG Membership
BAG members are appointed by the director of DEQ and represent a cross section of interests in the basin. By statute, the membership of BAGs must be representative of the industries and interests directly affected by implementing water quality programs within the basin. Each member must either reside within the basin or represent persons with a real property interest within the basin.
Among the interests that may be represented on BAGs are agriculture, mining, nonmunicipal point source discharge permittees, forest products, local government, grazing, Native American tribes (for areas within reservation boundaries), water-based recreation, and environmental concerns. In addition, each BAG must include a person to represent the public at large who may reside outside the basin. BAG members are expected to have a demonstrated interest or expertise that will benefit the work of the group.
BAG Responsibilities
BAGs are responsible for advising DEQ's director on the following matters:
- Priorities for monitoring within the basin
- Revisions needed in the designated beneficial uses for water bodies within the basins
- Categories to which water bodies in the basin should be assigned
- Processes for developing and implementing TMDLs
- Members to be appointed to watershed advisory groups
- Priorities for water quality programs within the basin based on available economic resources
Idaho Basins and DEQ Regions
Click on the map to link to a list of BAG members in each basin.
- Panhandle Basin Advisory Group
- Clearwater Basin Advisory Group
- Salmon Basin Advisory Group
- Southwest Basin Advisory Group
- Upper Snake Basin Advisory Group
- Bear River Basin Advisory Group