04/25/05 ISDA Director talks about drought, dams

An order from the Department of Water Resources will affect the use of ground water for irrigating nearly 81 thousand acres above the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer. Holders of consumptive use ground water rights dated February 27, 1979 and later are to be curtailed if replacement water isn`t provided in amounts equal to depletions to the Snake River between Blackfoot and Minidoka. Idaho Department of Agriculture Director Pat Takasugi says there will be impacts. How many, he's not sure. TAKASUGI "Producers that can will be trying to buy water to offset the impact so that they can continue pumping. I see probably a more costly operation in those areas this year and who knows for how long." Takasugi also wants more water storage. TAKASUGI "If we want to try to maintain our economy in this state, both growth in the valley and agriculture in the state we better start building some dams. We don't have enough to meet the need." Despite some major problems he's optimistic about ag's future. That's tomorrow's story. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott