05/12/08 Local dispute gets national attention

The Pioneer Irrigation District recently filed suit against the City of Caldwell to stop developers from building municipal storm water sewers that are dumping urban runoff directly into the district's canals and drains. The city passed an ordinance a year and a half ago allow such action. This Wednesday in Denver the irrigation district's story will be part of the Bureau of Reclamation's national meeting on canal management safety. Irrigation district lawyer Scott Campbell says he's tried unsuccessfully for a couple of years to negotiate some kind of agreement with the city. CAMPBELL "The city if it wanted to do this or force this upon the district that if it took the liability associated with the chemical pollution, bacterial pollution, flooding risk then the district would try to work out a deal. The city said no." Those will be the main points that Campbell is expected to make during the 75 minute presentation. A courtroom decision in this case is probably a couple of years away. The Pioneer district currently provides irrigation water to 34 thousand acres of residential and farmland in Canyon and Ada Counties. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott