When the U.S. Senate put off voting on a massive public lands bill this fall, it once again delayed a decision on U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo's proposed wilderness area in Owyhee County.

But it also set back funding for another Idaho issue - expanding the storage capabilities in three southern Idaho river basins, including the Snake.

A provision of the bill would provide $3 million for feasibility studies by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation "on projects that address water shortages within the Snake, Boise and Payette River systems," with the money available over 10 years. Funded projects would also have to line up with the conclusions of a Boise/Payette water storage assessment report released by Reclamation in 2006.

The language, inserted by outgoing U.S. Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, is similar to a failed bill introduced by current Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter when he was in the House of Representatives, Crapo spokesman Lindsay Nothern said on Wednesday.

State water officials have talked several times this year about finding new storage capacity across the state - largely through building new dams or expanding current ones. The Legislature funded an ongoing study on raising Minidoka Dam by 5 feet, as well as one on rebuilding the Teton Dam, which failed in 1976 and killed 11 people.

The money the bill would provide isn't necessary to get some feasibility studies off the ground, but the state needs more federal resources to finish the work, said Dave Tuthill, director of the Idaho Department of Water Resources. He pointed out as an example that a study of the proposed Twin Springs Dam on the Boise River already has more than $100,000 in federal money, in addition to a $500,000 line of credit the state has with the feds.

The language in the omnibus bill may have come in part from a visit Tuthill and Idaho Water Users Association Executive Director Norm Semanko had with Idaho's congressional delegation to talk about Twin Springs and other projects, Tuthill said. The two were in their roles as members of the Western States Water Council.

"We look at the federal government being a partner with the state of Idaho," Tuthill said, talking about the long-term need for more help from the former.

Nothern said that the omnibus lands bill is expected to return in January, and that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., plans to bring it back under a rule that keeps it from going back to committee hearings. It could be delayed again, though, by debate over an economic stimulus bill expected to come from President-elect Barack Obama.

"If we get into an extended discussion about that, then it's possible the lands bill's going to have to wait," Nothern said.

The other factor will be Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., whose filibuster threat was enough to derail the November vote. Nothern said the changed makeup of the new Senate should reduce Coburn's chances of pulling a repeat performance.

"We said at the time we felt it might stand an improved chance in January, and we still feel that way," he said.

Nate Poppino may be reached at 208-735-3237 or npoppino@magicvalley.com.