Groundwater pumpers file water plan with state

Tuesday, October 13, 2009 10:37 AM CDT

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (AP) - A group of groundwater users has filed a plan with the state to help ease future water conflicts in southern Idaho.

The proposal filed last week by the Idaho Ground Water Appropriators suggests a variety of actions to help avoid annual clashes between groundwater users and senior right holders over water from the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer.

The Times News reports the options include irrigating more crops with surface water, drying up acreage and recharging the aquifer using the region's canal network.

The group's executive director Lynn Tominaga says having a state-approved plan would give groundwater pumpers more flexibility in years the state considers curtailing groundwater usage.

In recent years, the state has curtailed or threatened to curtail groundwater pumps to bolster flows specifically to two southern Idaho trout farms.

Comments »

Comment on this story

Comments will be approved within 48 hours

Name:

Email: (optional)

Comments:

Image Verification: (Case sensitive)