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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><B><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=7>
<P align=left>News Release</P></FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=5>
<P align=left>IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES</P></FONT><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=1>
<P align=left>The Idaho Water Center, 322 E. Front St., Boise, ID - TEL: (208)
287-4800 FAX: (208) 287-6700</P></FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>
<P align=left>www.idwr.idaho.gov</P></FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman">
<P align=left>Release 2005-47</P></FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=5>
<P align=left>Naylor Farms Water Right Application Denied</P></B></FONT><FONT
face="Times New Roman">
<P align=left>For Immediate Release For Media Information Contact:</P>
<P align=left>Boise, Idaho – May 31, 2005 Michael Keckler – (208) 287-4828</P>
<P align=left>The Idaho Department of Water Resources has on reconsideration,
denied a water right</P>
<P align=left>application filed by Ralph Naylor Farms, LLC to pump ground water
for irrigation and industrial</P>
<P align=left>purposes. Naylor Farms is located about three miles north of
Moscow.</P>
<P align=left>The application was denied because Naylor Farms failed to show
that the ground water</P>
<P align=left>supply is sufficient for its intended purposes, or that existing
water rights in the area will not be</P>
<P align=left>reduced or harmed.</P>
<P align=left>In December 2004, IDWR issued a preliminary order approving the
Naylor Farms</P>
<P align=left>application based on an aquifer model prepared by the applicant
that showed little</P>
<P align=left>interconnection between the aquifer proposed to be tapped by
Naylor Farms and the aquifers</P>
<P align=left>used by the cities of Moscow and Pullman. Those opposing the water
right application did not</P>
<P align=left>provide their own expert testimony at the first hearing on the
matter held in September 2004 in</P>
<P align=left>Moscow.</P>
<P align=left>Following the 2004 preliminary order, the Latah County Commission
filed a petition for</P>
<P align=left>reconsideration with the Department alleging the Naylor water
right would conflict with the local</P>
<P align=left>public interest. Hearing Officer L. Glen Saxton decided more
information was needed on the</P>
<P align=left>underlying geology, and the potential hydrologic connectivity of
ground water beneath Naylor</P>
<P align=left>Farms and other wells in the area.</P>
<P align=left>A second hearing was held in April 2005, and testimony from expert
witnesses called by</P>
<P align=left>Latah County showed that wells drilled by Naylor Farms would
obtain water from the same</P>
<P align=left>source as other ground water wells in the area, and would almost
certainly cause injury to</P>
<P align=left>existing water users.</P>
<P align=left>-more-</P>
<P align=left>Saxton determined the evidence does not support the opinion of
Naylor Farms that there</P>
<P align=left>is sufficient ground water available for appropriation on their
property.</P>
<P align=left>The application was denied without prejudice meaning Naylor farms
could file a new</P>
<P align=left>application if they choose, or they could file a petition for
reconsideration.</P>
<P align=left>The amended preliminary order is available on the IDWR website:
</FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#0000ff>www.idwr.idaho.gov</P></FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman">
<P align=left>-end-</P></FONT></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>