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Click here for IDWR homepage The Shoshone Falls on the Snake River by Thomas Moran (1900) used courtesy of the Gilcrease Museum


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Idaho Department of
Water Resources
322 E. Front St
PO Box 83720
Boise, Idaho 83720-0098
Ph: (208) 287-4800
Fx: (208) 287-6700

Email: IDWR Public Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Northern Idaho Adjudication

Background:

The 2006 Legislature authorized IDWR to proceed with planning and designing the administrative mechanisms for commencing the first of three water right adjudications in Northern Idaho beginning with the Coeur d’ Alene and Spokane River drainages.  Adjudication staff for the Northern Idaho Adjudication will work in the Coeur d’ Alene office with support staff in Boise.

What is it?

The purpose of a water right adjudication is to catalog and confirm through the court all water rights and to which property those water rights belong, binding all property owners and parties to the court decree of those water rights.  The petition to the court will seek to include the United States, the Tribes, the State, local governments, as well as private property owners.

Northern Idaho Adjudication contact information:

For water right holders:

Idaho Department of Water Resources-Northern Regional Office

7600 N. Mineral Dr., Suite 100

Coeur d' Alene, ID  83815

Phone: (208) 762-2800    Fax:  (208) 762-2819

Toll free phone number to state office in Boise:

1-800-451-4129

For media contacts:

Bob McLaughlin-IDWR Senior Public Information Officer

Phone (208) 287-4828

E-mail: bob.mclaughlin@idwr.idaho.gov

The latest news:

NEWS RELEASE - Northern Idaho Adjudication Begins With A Series Of Town Hall Meetings Planned - July 8, 2008

Helpful information:

Frequently Asked Questions About Northern Idaho Adjudication

Northern Idaho Adjudication Brochure

A Primer for Idaho Water Rights

Northern Idaho Adjudication Court Documents

Court Order on Hearing Date and Procedures for Hearing on the Petition - July 11, 2008

Northern Idaho Adjudication Petition - July 3, 2008

Northern Idaho Adjudication Stipulation For Establishment Of Procedure For The Adjudication Of Domestic And Stock Water Claims - July 3, 2008

Provisional Order Re: Appointment Of District Judge, Confirmation Of Special Jurisdiction And Determination Of Venue For The General Adjudications Of The Coeur D' Alene-Spokane River Basin, The Palouse River Basin And The Clark Fork-Pend Oreille River Basins - September 29, 2006

Maps of the river basins:

Phase 1 - Basins 91-95 (Coeur d'Alene and Spokane River Basins)

Northern Idaho Adjudication river basins 91, 92, 93, 94, 95

Phase 2 - Basin 87 (Palouse River Basin)

Northern Idaho Adjudication phase 2 river basin 87

Phase 3- Basins 96 and 97 (Clark Fork-Pend Oreille River Basins)

Northern Idaho Adjudication basins for 96 & 97

Northern Idaho Adjudication legislation

 passed by the 2008 Idaho Legislature: 

SENATE BILL NO. 1354 - Northern Idaho adjudication petition, defer rights

The purpose of this legislation is to amend Idaho Code section
42-1406B to defer participation in the northern Idaho water
adjudication of individual domestic water users and request the
commencement order be issued only if the court determines it is
possible to defer the adjudication of domestic and stock water
users. In other Idaho water adjudications the court was able to
defer domestic water users and they were not mandated to
participate. This would make the treatment of northern Idaho
citizens equal to the treatment afforded other Idahoans in the
adjudication of water rights.

SENATE BILL NO. 1352 - Water rights claim, filing fee reduced

The purpose of this legislation is to restore the funding levels
for fees for filing notice of claims for water adjudication to
the point they were at prior to the passing of the Northern Idaho
Adjudication (NIA), which was a driving factor in the increase.
Northerners have expressed concern that the doubling of fees is
unfair and that they should pay the same amount as southerners
did during the Snake River adjudication. This legislation
accomplishes that leveling and fairness.
Additionally this legislation caps the filing fee for power
generation projects at a maximum of $ 250,000.00 each. Amending
this fee structure will relieve utility customers of excessive
filing fees while still providing adequate resources to the Idaho
Dept. Of Water Resources and the court to adjudicate northern
Idaho water rights claims.

SENATE BILL NO. 1418 - Northern Idaho water adjudications, excludes Basin 98

The purpose of this legislation is to clarify that the definition
of the waters of northern Idaho contained in Idaho Code  42-
1406B does not extend to the Idaho Department of Water Resources
administrative basin 98. Inclusion of basin 98 is not required
for purposes of adjudication of the other waters of northern
Idaho. Given the absence of current water conflicts within this
basin and the complexity of addressing international issues
within this basin, there is no compelling reason to proceed
immediately with the adjudication of the water rights within
administrative basin 98.

Additional Documents Related To Northern Idaho Adjudication

Letter from IDWR Director RE:  Request for Guidance Regarding Northern Idaho Adjudication - October 22, 2007

Northern Idaho Adjudication-Background and Issues-PowerPoint Presentation from IDWR Director David Tuthill - September 26, 2007

Northern Idaho Adjudication Overview  - PowerPoint Presentation from IDWR Water Rights Adjudication Bureau Chief Don Shaff - August 20, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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"The Shoshone Falls on the Snake River" by Thomas Moran (1900) used courtesy of the Gilcrease Museum
All Other Materials © 2000-2002, Idaho Department of Water Resources.