Idaho Bills
5 bills · 2019 Regular Session
Stating findings of the Legislature and supporting the 2018 settlement agreement between the cities, the Surface Water Coalition, and members of Idaho Ground Water Appropriators; supporting state management through the ESPA Ground Water Management Area; and supporting the continued funding and implementation of efforts to stabilize and reverse the trend of declining water levels in the ESPA.
This concurrent resolution expresses support for the settlement agreement between the cities, the surface water coalition and the members of the Idaho Ground Water Appropriators. The settlement resolves remaining issues, avoids curtailment, and maintains stable groundwater and surface water supplies on the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer. The resolution further supports the continued efficient management of the water supplies within the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer, and supports state management to ensure that water supply issues are timely addressed and declining water levels are stabilized and reversed.
Amends existing law to revise a provision regarding the diversion and use of water, with or without a water right.
The purpose of this legislation is to allow for ground water to be diverted and used at any time with or without a water right for the purpose of fire fighting.
67 – 0
Stating findings of the Legislature and supporting the construction of new water infrastructure in Idaho and, in particular, the raising of the Anderson Ranch Dam.
69 – 1
Stating findings of the Legislature and urging the President and Congress to take such action as necessary to require the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to recognize valid easements existing pursuant to the 1866 Mining Act on federal lands.
Requesting that Congress, the President, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture and the United States Forest Service respect and acknowledge Idaho's sovereignty over its water rights, its rights of way for use of water rights, and its desire to remove bureaucratic roadblocks that interfere with Idaho water users' use of their water rights.
Adds to existing law to provide that the director of the Department of Water Resources shall subordinate permits and licenses for certain projects issued after a specified date to the capture and retention of water in existing on-stream storage reservoirs during and following flood control operations until the date of allocation.
This legislation adds a new section to Idaho Code Section 42-115 to provide that the Director of the Department of Water Resources shall subordinate permits and licenses for water storage projects larger than one thousand (1,000) acre-feet issued after a specified date.
35 – 0