BOISE—Treasure Valley irrigators believe the state is trying to steal their senior water rights by counting flood control releases against their rights to water stored in Boise River system reservoirs.
The state argues it is actually trying to protect the storage water rights of all water right holders, senior and junior, and ensure the water is used for the maximum benefit.
The fight appears likely to end up in the Idaho Supreme Court, and Treasure Valley water users say they are prepared to fight the battle all the way to the top.
“I know our irrigators are willing to go the distance to defend and protect their water rights, and they should because the long-standing history of water rights and water right delivery in this area is being ... wrongfully challenged by the state of Idaho,” said Treasure Valley Water Users Association Executive Director Roger Batt.
The association’s members represent 284,000 of the 350,000 acres in the Treasure Valley that is irrigated by water from the Boise River system’s three reservoirs.
Source: www.capitalpress.com