Idaho farmer cautions that governor’s water regulations could wipe out vast farm areas

The Idaho Department of Water Resources issued a water curtailment on 500,000 acres of farmland, concerning farmers about the repercussions.

The curtailment was issued on May 30 because groundwater districts were reportedly not complying with “approved mitigation plans” from the IDWR. Key to the controversy was that farmers were worried about losing their crops if they did not keep the water flowing.

The Idaho Groundwater Appropriators, which represents agricultural, industrial and municipal ground water users across southeastern Idaho, called the order the largest water curtailment in the history of the United States, per Fox Business.

In an op-ed published in the Idaho Statesman, farmer Jake Stander suggests the problem isn’t a lack of water in the state but rather mismanagement.

Stander argued that a 2016 agreement that required heavy groundwater reductions and was later reinterpreted in 2022 is “flawed” and overly relied upon by the IDWR. According to Stander, changes in the plan have made it “unworkable,” possibly causing hundreds of thousands of acres to be shut down.

“The governing body overlooks the constantly shifting goalposts that, in effect, turn the mitigation plan into a blank check for water extortion,” Stander wrote.

Potato farmer Brian Murdock is reportedly looking at a $3 million loss in profits if the curtailments continue. However, some state leaders said farmers should have been smarter when planting their crops.

“[Idaho groundwater users] should have considered all factors before planting their crops, opting for those that require less water,” Idaho state Sen. Glenneda Zuiderveld said.

Following a March 31, 1954, agreement, people with newer water rights are considered “junior” and entities with “senior” water rights take precedence. With the curtailment being ordered, senior holders get priority.

On June 11, Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke said he’d hoped farmers and water users could work out an agreement.

“Agreements between farmers and water users are always better than ones made by the government or in a courtroom,” Bedke said in a press release. “I am optimistic that our water users will find a path forward that can meet the requirements for 2024, as well as come back to the table to craft an agreement to ensure our future generations have access to a predictable water supply.”

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Murdock said Gov. Brad Little (R-ID) is failing to do his job.

“He’s choosing to try to make the two groups, us and this canal system … try to fight it out in what we call mitigation and come up with a private agreement among ourselves, rather than following the way the Idaho Constitution and the water law has kind of dictated that it should be,” Murdock said.