How has our water management history effected our watershed?

We had a very good look into the history of our watershed and the end results of our attempts and successes of controlling it.  The original person to consider harnessing the Boise River was Arthur Foote and it was in the 1800's that he undertook this goal.  He had the vision of supplyiing irrigation to this arid region, turning it into land capable of growing crops. He struiggled to get the canal built due to the economy of the time but he instilled the belief that it could be done.  We owe a great deal to his inisight.

The work he started has given us the ability to control the water flow to many farms.  The water rights to these farms has been an important factor in how the water is distributed. In order for this to work there are several agencies that provide input, running from the Army Corps of Engineers to the 35 canal and water management groups that use water. Each has to be able to work together to keep the flows going as effectively as possible.  

We learned, today, that 65% of the produce eaten in the US is grown on irrigated fields. This really shows the importance of irrigation when you look at it from that perspective.  The spokesman told us that only 17 states utilize controlled irrigation at this time.  With good planning and more efficient processes perhaps this could be increased and less pressure would be applied to areas that are so essential to us now.

What do you think?  Is it a good idea to increase the amount of states that use irrigation to produce more crops?  Wouild you be willing to accept this even if it meant the rivers may have to be diverted or dammed to allow this?  Keep in mind that fish ladders have been improved and the effectivity as well, but they will still inhibit the ability of steelhead and salmon to return to their natural spawning grounds if an area where they spawn is chosen as a potential location for irrigation techniques.