The Idaho Department of Water Resources has issued a mid‑summer order confirming a continued water shortfall for Snake River users tied to the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer. Director Mathew Weaver says the Surface Water Coalition is again seeing reduced supplies this irrigation season because of junior groundwater pumping.
Under Idaho’s “first in time, first in right” water law, senior surface water users have priority over junior groundwater rights. Weaver’s July order keeps the curtailment date for unprotected junior groundwater rights at October 11, 1900 — meaning some irrigators with younger rights must shut off unless they’re covered by an approved mitigation plan. Most groundwater rights on the Eastern Snake Plain are now protected by plans negotiated with IDWR and local districts, but more than 900 rights remain subject to curtailment. IDWR field agents have been in the region since May, working with junior users to bring them into compliance and will continue site visits through the rest of the irrigation season.
View the attached order and press release from Idaho Department of Water Resources: