House passes aquifer management bill

By Times-News
Thursday, February 7, 2008 5:46 PM CST

The House unanimously passed an aquifer management bill Wednesday that outlines the rules for overseeing a massive water-management project.

The bill authorizes the Idaho Department of Water Resources Board to manage the creation of models of aquifers throughout Idaho. The models will cost $20 million, but that money, if approved, would be part of the budget for IDWR.

Rep. Dell Reybould, R-Rexburg, said the legislation will help avoid management problems encountered with the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer. He said there is 36 million acre-feet of water leaving Idaho annually.

“The fact of the matter is, in the state of Idaho, we have plenty of water,” he said on the House floor. “We’re not managing it.”

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