Water Shortfall Discovered In Southern Idaho

The Idaho Department of Water Resources has identified a 75,300 acre-foot shortfall in available water supply, potentially impacting thousands of groundwater users in the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer.

In an order signed Thursday, IDWR Director Mathew Weaver said updated runoff forecasts and a dry spring led to the shortfall.  The ruling comes as part of the ongoing Surface Water Coalition delivery call, where senior water rights holders are legally entitled to receive their full allotment before junior water rights holders.

Unless junior groundwater users can prove they’ve joined a state-approved mitigation plan, they risk being curtailed.  Deputy Director Brian Patton emphasized that “most water users will avoid curtailment” thanks to the 2024 Water Settlement, a collaborative agreement among farmers to proactively address supply concerns.

After A Wet Winter, Idaho Has Dried Out

IDWR said the injury volume jumped significantly since April due to rapid snowmelt and reduced runoff.

This July order marks the earliest groundwater curtailment date ever set under the state's Methodology Order.  IDWR added junior water rights holders not already in a mitigation plan have until July 25th to prove they can offset their share of the shortfall.  Failure to do so could mean immediate curtailment.

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