12/29/05 Year in Review

Water was a major concern for many in 2005. First there was the Nez Perce water agreement, some liked it, and others like the Idaho Farm Bureau didn't. PRIESTLEY "Our delegates at almost at three to one opposed this legislation." In the end the agreement was ratified by the state and the Nez Perce tribe. Then there was the buyout of water and surface water rights. Water Resources director Carl Dreher had to consider a shutdown of wells in parts of southern and eastern Idaho last spring and no one was happy with that situation. TOMINAGA "Any decision he makes will probably be disputed. And that dispute goes on. But it was a lack of water that concerned everyone in the early months of this year. The snow stopped falling, the prospects of a very dry summer appeared certain but then, the spring rains fell, record rain in some areas. DIXON "We just feel extremely blessed in the amount of water that we have received in rain. We have had probably close to three, three and a half inches of rain and it's really been timely." Rains in April, May and June helped many farmers make it through the summer. As the year ends some of the basins have a snowpack that is slightly above normal. Tomorrow a look at some other stories from the farm and ranch in 2005. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott