Pocatello, ID – Senior water right and junior water right users are continuing to negotiate agreement terms and an improved mitigation plan for Idaho’s water users. Farmers and irrigators from the Surface Water Coalition and Idaho Ground Water Association most recently met in Pocatello to resume discussions for a groundwater management plan that will recharge the Eastern Snake River Plain Aquifer, ensure a sustainable water supply for the state’s agriculture industry, and protect private property rights.
Following the water negotiation meeting on Wednesday, August 7 of stakeholders from the Groundwater Management Plan Advisory Council, the Surface Water Coalition released the following statement:
“There is a sense of renewed hope within the group. New ideas are coming out of these discussions, ideas that we believe might provide valuable tools for us as we work towards a long-term plan for the future. However, some of these ideas are very complex and will require a lot more work and refinement. We wholeheartedly thank those who are literally working day and night to make sure our efforts provide meaningful, enduring solutions for the betterment of Idaho. There are currently several proposals being worked on and our Coalition members are hopeful that they will help us create a path forward.”
Per the Governor’s Executive Order No. 2024 – 06, a Groundwater Management Plan must be submitted for review by September 1; a new mitigation agreement must be finalized prior to October 1, 2024.