BOISE—The Idaho Supreme Court could decide this year how Boise River system reservoir water released to prevent flooding should be accounted for.
Treasure Valley irrigators say water released for flood control purposes should not be counted against their reservoir storage rights.
The Idaho State Department of Water Resources says it should and the two sides have fought over the issue for several years.
Judge Eric Wildman, presiding judge of the Snake River Basin Adjudication Court, ruled in favor of the state last summer.
Irrigators have appealed that decision to the state Supreme Court, and both sides say a decision could be issued before the end of the year.
In a second, related decision that went in favor of the irrigators, Wildman ruled that a water right exists for water that is stored in the reservoirs following flood control releases.
He sent that issue back to a special court master to decide the priority date of those water rights. That ruling is stayed until the Supreme Court decides the major issue of how flood control releases should be accounted for.
Source: www.capitalpress.com