Area commissioners voice opposition to water adjudication

SHOSHONE COUNTY - The Shoshone County Board of Commissioners, as well as that of Benewah, Bonner, and Boundary counties, have submitted a resolution to Gov. Butch Otter in opposition to water adjudication in North Idaho

The resolution requests that the adjudication plan that passed in March be delayed until the Legislature provides specific instructions to begin and adequate funding is certain.

The commissioners submitted the resolution because of the devastating economic impacts they claim the water adjudication process could bring on residents. They called the Legislature's decision for commencement “short sighted” and “economically harmful to North Idaho citizens.”

Commissioners from four out of the five northern counties also ask that any tribal claims for land and any inherent settlements for land that result from the adjudication process be satisfied with only Kootenai County lands.

“General adjudication of the Rathdrum Aquifer primarily serves the interests of Kootenai County and is ardently opposed by Shoshone, Benewah, Bonner, and Boundary counties,” Shoshone County Commissioner Jon Cantamessa said. “I think Kootenai County believes they must do this, and I don't think they understand it.”

Commissioners cited the fact that the decision to commence the North Idaho water adjudication was made two years before the Rathdrum Aquifer study was completed as another reason the adjudication should be repealed.