Clear Springs Foods official requests review of IDWR

By Nate Poppino, Times-News
Friday, August 1, 2008 4:22 PM CDT

TWIN FALLS, Idaho - The spokesman for a trout farm about to challenge the Idaho Department of Water Resources in court has now asked the Legislature to investigate the way the department operates.

Saying he speaks for a number of water users across the region, Randy MacMillan, vice president of research at Clear Springs Foods, has asked an interim committee of the Legislature to begin a performance review of IDWR. The request, MacMillan said, comes because of a “growing lack of trust” in IDWR’s handling of water-rights issues, and is not tied to a water call he’s involved in that is about to move to the court system.

“We think that politics has become too much of a part of their decision-making process,” MacMillan said, adding that he’s perfectly willing to accept that he could be wrong.

Any investigation would be done by the Legislature’s Office of Performance Evaluations, which examines effectiveness of efficient state agencies. Legislators make requests to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee, which subsequently reviews them and sends approved requests to the OPE.

Recent reviews have touched subjects as varied as virtual public schools, state substance abuse operations and public safety communications networks.

MacMillan brought his concerns to legislators at a July 14 meeting of the Natural Resources Interim Committee. Following presentations on aquifers and curtailment by IDWR Administrator Hal Anderson and Director Dave Tuthill, MacMillan listed problems he saw with the current system, citing delays in the application process for a Twin Falls Canal Company permit at Milner Dam and similar issues.

“Frustrations got vented, I’d say,” said Sen. Chuck Coiner, R-Twin Falls, a member of the committee.

Coiner said he’s not sure if legislators will follow up on the request. He and others are still a little confused about what MacMillan is seeking, he said, and want to ensure investigators aren’t asked to review previous IDWR decisions or items that were hashed out in court.

“That’s not the purpose at all, from my perspective,” Coiner said.

The request, as MacMillan phrased it, seems to line up with Coiner’s ideal uses, studying the timeliness of the department’s work and what factors may play into that.

“We want objective evaluation, objective criticism if it’s warranted, and objective recommendations on how to improve,” MacMillan said.

Tuthill said he was surprised by the tone of MacMillan’s presentation, one of three by non-IDWR staff regarding existing water rights issues. He declined comment on his feelings about an investigation, pointing out that the decision whether to request one is now in the hands of legislators.

“That’s up to the legislative committee,” he said.

It’s not clear whether legislators will revisit the request at their next meeting on Aug. 12. That agenda is being prepared, Coiner said.

“We’ll see if they choose (to follow up),” Coiner said of his peers. “We’ve got some other issues.”

Comments »

Comment on this story

Comments will be approved within 48 hours

Name:

Email: (optional)

Comments:

Image Verification: (Case sensitive)