02/29/08 Aquifer study

A bill that would set the wheels in motion for the ultimate development of Idaho aquifer management has cleared a Senate committee. The Idaho House has already passed the measure which gives state water officials 20 million dollars to study and plan for the future management of the aquifers. The state would gather data from all ten aquifers and the Idaho Water Resource Board would then develop management plans for future agricultural, city and commercial uses. Some in the legislature say its necessary to spend 20 million dollars now and save money and avert problems like those on the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer. Governor Butch Otter's spokesman Jon Hanian says this is one of the governor's top priorities. HANIAN "As we saw early on during our forum to try to bring all those stakeholders together in our first year water is a contentious issue in this state but I think what all parties agree unless you have some solid data that you can build a foundation on you're building a foundation on quicksand which is why he feels it is very important that we get a statewide working model that is accepted as the best scientific data we've got." Before the legislation can reach Otter's desk it must get approval from the Idaho Senate. That vote will come next month. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott