The Surface Water Coalition, which consists of irrigation districts and canal companies with senior water rights, has submitted a proposed groundwater management plan to the Idaho Department of Water Resources.

The coalition and groundwater pumpers were embroiled in controversy earlier this year that led to IDWR Director Mathew Weaver issuing a curtailment order on May 30 in the coalition’s ongoing water call.

It affected about 6,400 junior water rights in six groundwater districts in eastern and south-central Idaho and would have cut water to about 500,000 acres.

At issue were mitigation plans and a 2016 settlement agreement, which the groundwater district said weren’t working and they could no longer abide by. Some negotiated with the department, and others held out.

Substantial progress

On June 13, Director Weaver paused compliance field inspections, noting substantial progress in negotiations with the four groundwater districts that had held out.

That led to a temporary agreement between the factions for the 2024 season. But water users were charged with creating and agreeing to a new water right plan moving forward.

Gov. Brad Little set a deadline of Sept. 1 for water users on both sides to submit proposals for review by the state Department of Water Resources.

The Surface Water Coalition didn’t immediately reply to a request by Capital Press for more information.

But following the submittal of a draft plan, the coalition released the following statement.

Beneficial talks

“These past few months of negotiations have been intense and extremely beneficial, and we are grateful for all the time and energy dedicated towards creating an enduring solution for our shared resource. These meetings allowed us to sit down at the table together and talk farmer to farmer to bring forward some innovative ideas about how best to protect our aquifer, avoid future injury to our senior water rights, and keep as many acres of Idaho farmland as viable as possible.

“The Surface Water Coalition is confident that a long-term agreement between our senior water right holders and our neighboring junior water right users is possible, and we are looking forward to continuing to work together with the Idaho Department of Water Resources to finalize an effective groundwater management plan.”

The coalition’s proposed plan was created with the goals of promoting a healthy Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer, increasing reach gains into the Snake River, protecting private property rights, upholding the Idaho Constitution and guaranteeing an adequate water supply for Idaho’s future generations, it said in a press release.

Settlement negotiations continue concerning a mitigation plan that would provide the Idaho Ground Water Association groundwater districts safe harbor from a curtailment order.