03/22/05 Legislature and the Eastern Snake aquifer

The Idaho legislature is looking at three bills that could give the state the tools its needs to implement the so-called 'strawman' proposal for the Eastern Snake Plains aquifer. One bill authorizes the Department of Water Resources to sell bonds for future projects. Lynn Tominaga of the Idaho Groundwater Appropriators says without some kind of agreement there are huge repercussions ahead. TOMINAGA "If the tools aren't there to allow for purchase and exchange for some of the water rights that are below Milner it could mean massive curtailment across the Eastern Snake Plains aquifer." Water Resources director Carl Dreher will consider a shutdown of wells in parts of southern and eastern Idaho beginning April 1st. Tominaga says agriculture will suffer tremendous losses if that happens. TOMINAGA "Any decision he makes will probably be disputed because if he comes in and tries to shut down a million acres of ground water we're going to challenge the decision. If senior surface water users don't like any decision he comes up with they will challenge his decision too." Several studies conducted in the past year show losses between 200 and 900 million dollars to the economy because of dairy and farm well water curtailment. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott