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Idaho Senate panel approves $20-million aquifer plan |
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A bill that would give state water officials $20 million to study, monitor and develop plans for future management of 10 aquifers scattered across the state cleared another legislative hurdle Wednesday.
The Senate Resources and Environment Committee unanimously approved the proposal, which supporters say is a critical component to planning for population growth, dealing with climate change and averting future water battles like those unfolding around the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer in southern Idaho.
The House has already passed the measure.
Lawmakers on the Senate committee said the state should invest the $20 million over the next 10 years despite the state's flagging economy and low tax revenue forecasts.
"We understand it's not cheap," said Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, who also co-chairs the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee. "It will certainly save us some pain and lots of money down the road."
The funding would pay for the state to gather data on aquifers in nearly every corner of Idaho.
It would also grant the Idaho Water Resource Board the authority to develop plans for managing how each aquifer is used or preserved in the face of increased demand for water from growth in cities, agriculture and other uses.
A spokesman for Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter, Jon Hanian, told The Associated Press that the proposal remains one of the governor's top priorities.
"We believe that the state can and should afford this money to study the aquifers," Hanian said. "You can't really make wise and sound decisions on this precious resource unless you have accurate, scientifically certifiable data."
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Last Updated ( Friday, 29 February 2008 )
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