[Vision2020] Say What?

[Tom Hansen]

“The states’ water rights are under the jurisdiction of the states.  So, 
Washington has jurisdiction to permit the use of water within Washington.  
Idaho does so within Idaho.  Currently there is an agreement setting up a 
local body that coordinates and studies the issues with respect to the 
aquifers that serve the Moscow, Pullman, Colfax area.  So far there is a 
belief that those are connected.  There has been some decline in the 
aquifer.  There is not total agreement among the scientists as to whether 
that’s a decline that amounts to the level of recharge not being enough to 
satisfy the amount of water that’s being taken out.  Idaho has decided to 
adjudicate both this space and the Palouse Basin and the Rathdrum, and 
that will allow them to have a better database on what the water use is 
within the state of Idaho.  But, they do not have the authority to cross 
the state line and do that within the state of Washington.  Washington has 
its own rules for doing that.  Under the law, there are many ways that the 
two states can attempt to coordinate their use.  They can do it either as 
they are doing it now informally.  They can go through a much more formal 
process of establishing an agreement.  And under the federal constitution, 
they are required to then have the agreement ratified by congress.  If 
they can’t reach an agreement, either informally or formally, they can go 
to the US Supreme Court to resolve disputes.”

- Prof. Barbara Cosens, University of Idaho Law School (On the Idaho 
Public Television program “Dialogue” – January 11, 2007)


Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"People who ridicule others while hiding behind anonymous monikers in chat-
room forums are neither brave nor clever." 

- Latah County Sheriff Wayne Rausch (August 21,
2007)

---------------------------------------------
This message was sent by First Step Internet.
           http://www.fsr.com/