Ground water rights update Eagle Idaho

If you are a current or new user of groundwater rights within the Boise river basin, Eagle, Star, Middleton and other surrounding areas,[basin 63] Be careful.

  The current rules have a twist that is being selectively enforced by IDWR [Idaho department of water resources].

 Here is the Rub. You must have a permit or water right to pull water from a well and irrigate more than 1/2 acre.

You must have a well that draws water below 200 feet to make sure you don’t pull from current water users in the boise river. You must NOW ALSO HAVE A WELL THAT IS AN IRRIGATION WELL WHEN THE DRILLER PULLS YOUR PERMIT!!!!!.  And that irrigation well must have a deep seal below 200 feet that is acceptable to IDWR. A deep seal is either natural or man made which is defined as an adequate confining layer, determined by IDWR. The definition of which may still be in question.

Even if your permit does not have this requirement listed, wake up, you may be in trouble. IDWR has recently stated that they are deciding this issue on a case by case basis.  IDWR may require that you have the proper seal on a new well installed by the well driller , or you may have to drill twice as deep as you think. EVEN THOUGH THERE MAY BE A DOMESTIC WELL or IRRIGATION WELL NEXT DOOR THAT IS NOT OR HAS NOT BEEN REQUIRED TO SUBMIT TO THE SAME CRITERIA.

So to be safe, before you drill that well, on  a new permit, or an existing well, check 4 items, 1. What type of well drilling permit are you required to pull, or do you have, and look at your well log. 2. What is going to qualify as a confining layer. 3. What does your permit to irrigate say, even if it doesn’t require a confining layer below 200ft, don’t believe it. Some premits say it is required, some do not. IDWR does not take responsibility for the lack of this language on your permit or water right once issued. 4. Contact IDWR, make sure you talk directly to someone in charge, and get it in writing whatever the requirement is From IDWR, don’t rely on a phone call for verification. Then make sure your well driller has the technology to install a well with a proper deep seal. If you don’t get the proper answers and documentation, contact a Professional water engineer or water rights attorney and be safe. Otherwise you could incur massive costs to redrill the proper well for irrigation purposes.