The Water Reality Idaho Can No Longer Ignore

Idaho is facing one of the most challenging water years we have seen, with record agricultural demand, depleted reservoir storage and the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer at historic lows.

In his latest opinion article, our manager, Dan Davidson, who also serves as treasurer of the Surface Water Coalition, shares a firsthand look at the realities facing Idaho’s surface water users and the difficult decisions farmers and irrigation districts are being forced to make this season.

More importantly, Dan explains why this year’s challenges cannot be treated as a temporary crisis. Idaho must move beyond short-term measures and begin the work of developing a sustainable, enforceable long-term water strategy that restores the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer and protects the water resources our communities and agricultural economy depend on for generations to come.

Read Dan’s full opinion article below.

2026-8-10 The Water Reality Idaho Can No Longer Ignore.pdf

A Century of Innovation Still at Work at MID

More than 120 years after they were installed, two historic wooden scoop wheels continue to play an important role in delivering water within the Minidoka Irrigation District.

In a recent Capital Press feature, our manager, Dan Davidson, shares the history behind these remarkable pieces of irrigation infrastructure near Rupert. Installed in 1903, the scoop wheels can lift water as much as four feet into MID canals while using very little energy—and, as far as we know, they are the only two of their kind still operating in Idaho.

The article also explores how MID continues to honor the ingenuity of those who built our system while investing in modern improvements that make water delivery more efficient and reliable for the more than 77,000 irrigated acres we serve.

Read the full Capital Press article below to learn more about the history of MID’s scoop wheels and how they’re still helping deliver water more than a century later.

2024-10-24 Irrigators still rely on efficient scoop wheels _ Capital Press.pdf

 Capital Press Article here

Idaho Water Users Continue to Negotiate Water Agreement Terms

Idaho’s surface and groundwater users continue working toward a long-term solution for managing the state’s water resources and protecting the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer.

Following an August 7 meeting of the Groundwater Management Plan Advisory Council in Pocatello, the Surface Water Coalition shared an update on the ongoing negotiations between senior surface water users and junior groundwater users. Coalition members expressed renewed hope as new ideas and proposals emerge, while recognizing that significant work remains to develop solutions that are both meaningful and sustainable.

The discussions are focused on developing a groundwater management plan that supports aquifer recharge, provides greater certainty for Idaho agriculture and water users, and protects private property rights.

Read the Surface Water Coalition’s full statement below for more on the current state of negotiations and the work underway toward a long-term path forward.

2024-08-08 Surface Water Coalition comments on current state of negotiations.jpeg