05/12/06 It`s all about the control of Idaho water

Nine days ago the Coalition for Idaho Water and environmentalists spent two hours before a federal judge in Portland. The arguments that both presented involved the control of Idaho's water. US District Judge James Redden could merge the upper Snake River plan for salmon with the lower Snake and Columbia system. Coalition leader Norm Semanko says Idaho water would be at immediate risk and he might require Congressional help. I asked Congressman Butch Otter about the possibility that legislation could override a judicial ruling. OTTER "You're coming back to ask all these folks, the very folks that wrote the Endangered Species Act, the very folks that have caused most of these problems to solve our problems." Otter says there are plenty of Oregon, Washington and Montana congressional votes that would favor a Redden ruling that added the Upper Snake to the Columbia plan. OTTER "If we did anything back here it ought to be to allow the four governors to go forward with their collaborative efforts they've had." And that's some question about the future of the Nez Perce Water Agreement should Redden rule in favor of the environmental interests. His ruling could come at any time this month. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott