New IWIRI director outlines research priorities, data integration and stakeholder advisory plans

Kendra Kiser, director of the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute (IWIRI), briefed the House Agricultural Affairs Committee on the institute’s mission, recent projects and plans to strengthen state water research and data tools.

Kiser said IWIRI was established under the Water Resources Research Act (1964) and that there are sister institutes in every state and territory. She described IWIRI’s charge to plan, coordinate and conduct water research, support workforce development through student training, and disseminate findings to communities.

Kiser outlined past contributions, including IWIRI involvement with the East Snake Plain aquifer model and the institute’s renewed activity after recent University of Idaho leadership support. She said IWIRI has been engaging stakeholders statewide to identify distinct needs — for example, lake level and water‑quality concerns in northern Idaho versus quantity and urbanization pressures in southern Idaho.

To make research responsive to local needs, Kiser said IWIRI is creating a two‑tier advisory structure: an executive board with representatives from state and federal agencies, industry and nonprofits, and a research advisory committee with surface and groundwater users, irrigation district managers and other local stakeholders. The research advisory committee will help prioritize water research projects and connect researchers with funding sources and community partners.

Kiser highlighted data integration as a priority and described work on tools that aggregate datasets from USGS, SNOTEL, IDWR and other sources. She said a National Science Foundation–funded project examined data integration in the Treasure Valley and that IWIRI’s “big wood” tools bring multiple datasets into a single interface for streamflow forecasting and decision support. Kiser told the committee that funding for sustained data integration is scarce and remains a challenge.

Committee members from northern Idaho welcomed IWIRI’s presence for lake‑level and water‑quality work. Members asked about outreach, how IWIRI identifies project opportunities, and data availability; Kiser described direct engagement with watershed collaboratives and agencies, and said IWIRI will publish tools and underlying data through its website.

Kiser closed by saying IWIRI will continue stakeholder engagement, finalize advisory groups, and use those priorities to solicit research that addresses state water needs.