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Water Buyout?
Submitted by idaholc on Sun, 11/18/2007 - 11:04am.
Let me get this straight. The Idaho Department of Water Resources gives more of our water away than exists?! It seems tradition and the State Constitution provides a remedy: First in time, first in right!
But apparently, cutting off junior water rights holders is not politically popular, especially cutting off Republican farmers. So instead, the taxpayers will provide the money for a select group of Republicans to pay farmers to stop using our water.
Of course, this will be done on a selective basis largely ignoring the first in time principle.
This process should be taught in every Idaho Civics class.
Irrigation District
I pay for Water delivery on 40 acres, this process has gone on for more than 60 years. We had a water right of 1 foot over that 40 acres, several years ago Nampa-Meridian decided we had to much, it were reduced, monetary compensation was not offered. My renter hasn't ran out, but may happen this year. Water rights don't mean much it's all about politics and who wants it.
Silver
worse than you think
Idaholc; Just check out what happened last year or the year before. The state provided $ to buy water rights from a group of irr. near king hill, who had been pumping from the snake with high vol, high lift pumps, which proved very costly. they never paid anything for the land or water, it was desert entry. So, "we" bought out their water right and gave it to the ground pumpers to use to shut up the fish farms, which have a "superior" water right. You will see more of this to come. The people in the rest of the state should scream loudly. But the ground pumpers east of Mt. Home have a lot of reprs. in leg.
rip-offs
see new post today under guest editorial submitted by gov. Butch.