Conjunctive Management Rules Proposed Boundary Changes for the Eastern Snake River Plain Aquifer

• Rules for Conjunctive Management of Surface and Ground Water Resources

IDAPA 37.03.11.050.01.AREAS DETERMINED TO HAVE A COMMON GROUND WATER SUPPLY (RULE 50)

1. Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer. The area of coverage of this rule is the aquifer underlying the Eastern Snake River Plain as the aquifer is defined in the report, Hydrology and Digital Simulation of the Regional Aquifer System, Eastern Snake River Plain, Idaho, USGS Professional Paper 1408-F, 1992 excluding areas south of the Snake River and west of the line separating Sections 34 and 35, Township 10 South, Range 20 East, Boise Meridian.

January 2013 Update

On November 10, 2010, Clear Springs Foods, Inc. filed a Petition to Amend Rule 50 with the Idaho Department of Water Resources (“IDWR”). Specifically, the petition requested the initiation of rulemaking to modify and amend Rule 50 of the Conjunctive Management Rules (IDAPA 37.03.11.50) to enlarge the area of common groundwater for the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer. As a result of the petition, IDWR commenced a negotiated rulemaking process to examine whether Rule 50 should be amended. That process was suspended while updates to the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer Model were completed because the changes may affect any potential rule change. At this point in the process, no decision has been made. IDWR will notify those parties that have expressed interest in this issue when the process is restarted. See the Director’s August 20, 2011 letter to participants.

Proposed Boundary Changes

On November 10, 2010, Clear Springs Foods, Inc. filed a Petition to Amend Rule 50 with the Idaho Department of Water Resources (“IDWR”). Specifically, the petition requested the initiation of rulemaking to modify and amend Rule 50 of the Conjunctive Management Rules (IDAPA 37.03.11.50) to enlarge the area of common groundwater for the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer. As a result of the petition, IDWR has commenced a negotiated rulemaking process to examine whether Rule 50 should be amended. At this point in the process, no decision has been made. IDWR is seeking comment from interested parties on this issue and anticipates holding meetings to answer questions. The comment deadline is May 31, 2011. Please see the Upcoming Meetings tab to see a list of upcoming meetings.

On April 6, 2011, a meeting was held at IDWR’s State Office. At the meeting, participants requested that IDWR extend the comment period beyond April 20 and asked that IDWR identify issues participants should comment on. See the following link for IDWR’s response.

• Area of Common Ground Water Supply — Issues from the April 6 Meeting - April 6, 2011

The following link takes you to maps showing which areas may be added to the area of common groundwater under Clear Springs’ proposals.

• Proposed Boundary Changes