Feds, State Sign $258 Million Water Conservation Program

By Michelle Dunlop, The Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho,

May 20–TWIN FALLS — Roughly 100,000 acres of Magic Valley farmland could be taken out of production under a water conservation agreement struck between the state and federal government.

“This is a winning agreement for all of Idaho,” said Lt. Gov. Jim Risch, who signed the deal on Idaho’s behalf. “After extensive research, we have determined that this unique state-federal partnership will result in better water flows for spring users, improved water quality for everyone and an increase in wildlife habitat.”

On Friday, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and Risch signed into effect the long-anticipated $258 million program. The deal offers an opportunity to reduce water use out of the Eastern Snake River Plain Aquifer by 200,000 acre-feet annually. Ground- and surface-water users alike say the program is an important step toward restoring the diminished aquifer.

Under the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, or CREP, irrigators will be paid to dry up lands, on a voluntary basis, for 15 years. The price per acre of land varies on the benefit that comes to the aquifer for drying up that land, said Clive Strong of the Idaho Attorney General’s office.

Retiring House Speaker Bruce Newcomb, R-Burley, has been working to put the deal in place for roughly three years and estimates that water users could see around $125 per acre.

“We’ll pick those lands that will have the greatest effect on the river and the aquifer,” Newcomb said.

The total cost of the Eastern Snake River Plain CREP over a 15-year period will be $258 million, with the federal government contributing $183 million and the state funding $75 million. The Idaho Legislature appropriated $5 million this year for the program and came up with $3 million last year to loan out to groundwater users as an incentive to enroll.

For groundwater pumpers, the program could be particularly handy when surface- and spring-water users levy calls for water against them, said Lynn Tominaga, with the Idaho Ground Water Appropriators. Even pumpers who face being shut off still qualify for CREP if they have pre-registered for the program.

“If we can get the 100,000 acres out of production, it should relieve, or make a very serious dent in what the ground water users are responsible for,” Tominaga said.

Sign up for the program begins on May 30, and continues until enrollment goals are met, or through Dec. 31, 2007, whichever comes first. Land enrolled in the program will remain under contract for 14 to 15 years, as specified in the contract.

Like Newcomb, Tom Arkoosh, an attorney for surface water users, believes the CREP agreement represents only one of several tools to solving the problems with the aquifer.

“It’s a publicly funded mitigation for over-appropriation of the aquifer,” Arkoosh said.

Arkoosh advocates not only aquifer recharge, long-term planning along with adherence to Idaho’s first in time, first in right water law.

The CREP will improve the Snake River’s water quality and flow by increasing groundwater levels and reduce the application of agricultural chemicals and sediments. Establishing permanent vegetative cover will provide habitat for many wildlife species.

“Obviously, this is a key component of the state’s effort to resolve the conjunctive management dispute between surface and groundwater users,” Strong said.

Times-News reporter Michelle Dunlop can be reached at 735-3237 or by e-mail at mdunlop@magicvalley.com.

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