[Vision2020] Idaho groundwater report

[Bill London]

Fwd: RE: North Idaho Adjudication Update on Meeting with tIdaho water is being studied and lawyered big time now.
Rep. Tom Trail sent on the attached report and info below.
BL




----- Original Message ----- 
From: Tom Trail 
To: london at moscow.com 
Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 12:58 PM
Subject: Fwd: RE: North Idaho Adjudication Update on Meeting with the Dept. of Justice


  Bill--Here is a report on the N. Idaho Adjudication process recently


released by Clive Strong, Deputy Attorney General.  During the past session
$20 million was approved for the adjudication process and water management.
The first priority involved in the process is the Coeur d" Alene River Basin.
Our aquifer in the Moscow area is second on the priority list and I believe
that about $2 million has been allocated to the adjudication process which
probably won't begin until another three years.  I hope we can learn from
the Coeur d" Alene process. 


Rep. Tom Trail   (please share this information with the public if so desired.


  On May 20th, David Tuthill, Garrick Baxter I met with representatives of the Department of Justice to discuss the North Idaho Adjudication.  We used the attached power point presentation to brief the Justice representatives on the issue of the boundaries of the Spokane/Coeur d' Alene River Basin and the deferral of the small domestic and stock water rights.  While some concerns were raised about whether the State would follow through with all three adjudications, there did not appear to be significant concerns with excluding Pend Oreille Lake from the Spokane/Coeur d' Alene Basin. 

  Justice's primary was with the exclusion of the small domestic and stock water rights.  Their concern stems from the fact that domestic and stock water rights account for a larger percentage of the water rights in Northern Idaho than in Southern Idaho and that the Coeur d' Alene Tribe had expressed reservations about the deferral.  We were able to address Justice's concern over the number of domestic and stock water rights by demonstrating that the actual use under these water rights is relatively small in relationship to water supply.  We agreed to a follow up meeting on the domestic and stock water deferral to address the tribal concerns, which occurred on June 5th.  At that meeting we provided background on the SRBA stipulation and reviewed the proposed North Idaho stipulation.

  Justice committed to providing a response by the end of June.  Given the tone of the exchange, we are hopeful that the Department of Justice will respond favorably on both the boundary and domestic and stock water issues.

  We will keep you advised.

  Clive
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