Archived Water News Headlines | Groundwater - Surface Water Concepts and Issues

The following news stories were published during 2003 and 2004. Since a few years have passed since publication, you may find some link decay when clicking a headline.

Idaho water users urged to find common ground (January 14, 2004 - Idaho Statesman) -
South-central Idaho water users are being urged to find a cooperative resolution to the battle between ground pumpers and surface water users because usually, there isn´t enough water to fulfill all their rights. A hydrologist says that recharging the aquifer is the only solution.

Groups file another lawsuit over Smith River water rights (January 10, 2004, Helena Independent Record) -
A group of irrigators, landowners, outfitters and anglers say that the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation is continuing to circumvent a 1993 moratorium on new surface water rights, and they want the state to stop the permit process for 15 applications for new or changed groundwater uses in the Smith River Basin.

Irrigation Wells Cause a Flood of Debate (Aug '03).
With Montana's four year drought, a number of basins have been closed to new surface water appropriations. But some say that irrigation wells are depleting surface water supply and that these wells are, in fact, violating the state's moratorium in closed basins. A one sentence statement from one of the state's Department of Natural Resources hydrologists -- "“It can be stated with certainty that groundwater withdrawals have created impacts to surface flow of the Smith River” -- only adds fuel to the growing number of lawsuits. Pending irrigation well applicants need to show the groundwater they intend to withdraw was not “immediately or directly” connected to surface water - the language laid out in the basin closure statute. [Source: Water and the Smith: Is irrigation depleting water supplies?, by Eve Brown, Helena Independent Record]