BOISE – As farmers continue to work toward long-term water contracts, Idaho Gov. Brad Little announced Tuesday that he would allocate an additional $10 million to projects aimed at improving the health of the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer.

The $10 million in funding is in addition to the $30 million Little and the Idaho state legislature have allocated to recharge the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer, Little’s office said.

“My top priority has been and will continue to be maintaining a strong agricultural industry in eastern Idaho while preserving water for future generations,” Little said in a written statement. “The additional funding we announced today will move aquifer water levels in the right direction. It is part of an overall strategy to preserve our water supply here in Idaho. Ultimately, farmers, not government mandates, will drive the solutions. I am very excited about the momentum farmers are building to reach an agreement.”

Little said the $10 million came from funds freed up by cost shifts on other projects in other parts of the state.

In Idaho, water rights and water availability reached a fever pitch on May 30 when the Idaho Department of Water Resources issued a curtailment order requiring 6,400 subordinate water rights holders to shut off their water to offset a projected water shortage for senior water rights holders, the Idaho Capital Sun previously reported. The order did not apply to domestic, culinary uses of water. However, it sent shockwaves through agricultural communities among farmers who needed the water to irrigate crops they had already planted in the ground before the curtailment order was announced.

Idaho’s first-come, first-served water policy

In Idaho, water issues are governed by a first-come, first-served approach. In other words, if there is not enough water for everyone, senior water rights holders, who have the oldest water rights, will have priority over junior water rights holders, who acquired their rights more recently.

This year’s reduction order was in effect for about three weeks before the two sides reached an agreement, which the state announced on June 20. The agreement resolved the issue for this year and lifted the reduction order.

A few days after the agreement was announced, Little issued an executive order setting two new deadlines for the two sides to conclude water agreements.

• The Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer Groundwater Management Plan Advisory Council must submit a new groundwater management plan to the Idaho Department of Water Resources by Sunday.
• Surface and groundwater users must develop an improved mitigation plan by October 1.

Bingham County farmer Adam Young told the Sun that his family owns subordinate groundwater rights that are affected by the restriction order, and on Tuesday he expressed optimism about the ongoing negotiations.

“I am encouraged by the progress we are making toward real, lasting solutions,” Young said in a written statement released Tuesday. “We were able to come together and identify projects that will secure supplies for legacy water rights holders, conserve groundwater and maintain Idaho’s strong agricultural economy. The funding announced by Governor Little will be tremendously helpful as we build and implement the infrastructure to achieve these goals.”