Key Idaho water legislation signed into law by governor

Gov. Brad Little has signed into law legislation that supporters say is critical to preserving a historic water agreement between two sets of water users and is intended to prevent declines in a giant Idaho aquifer relied on by farmers and cities.

Little, a Republican, late last week signed into law the bill to give the state additional authority to cut off water to groundwater pumpers ignoring the agreement.

The 2015 agreement is intended to stabilize the level of the Lake Erie-sized Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer so that surface users and groundwater pumpers have a reliable source of water.

The bill passed the Senate 33-1 and the House 67-0.