Water Rights in Idaho

 A description on a web site says “Clear Springs Foods makes its home on the scenic Snake River Canyon of southern Idaho's Magic Valley. Here, our Rainbow Trout are farm-raised in concrete raceways fed by an abundance of crystal clear spring water.” There’s a big issue however over how “abundant” that water is since Idaho Department of Water Resources Director Dave Tuthill recently announced his plans to curtail 430 Magic Valley water users in order to provide water for fish farms like Clear Springs Foods. Groundwater pumpers have until Thursday to come up with an acceptable plan to provide more water to Clear Springs Foods. If not, 865 wells belonging to farmers, private companies, cities and others will go dry, starting March 16. Like all issues where there are two sides to the story, either side can be argued logically. But when there’s a shortage of water between conflicting parties, there’s an old Idaho law that presides. Allen Merritt Southern Region Manager, Idaho Department of Water Resources.

 (Merritt) “In Idaho water is delivered first in time, first in rights. Over the years, Clear Springs Foods has developed use of spring water and their rights are senior to some of the later developed groundwater rights.”