News
American Falls Reservoir outflow raised as irrigation season approaches
2+ hour, 14+ min ago (237+ words) Published 10:50 am Monday, March 16, 2026 U.S. Bureau of Reclamation water managers on March 12 increased outflow at American Falls Reservoir in Eastern Idaho in preparation for irrigation season. Reclamation raised outflow to 1,000 cubic feet per second, from winter flow of about 280 cfs, to…...
Streamlined water rights dispute procedures raise due process fears
11+ mon, 3+ week ago (567+ words) Published 10:17 am Thursday, March 20, 2025 Two Oregon lawmakers want to streamline how water rights disputes are resolved but the proposal is drawing criticism from organizations representing farmers and environmentalists. The amount of time needed to process certain water rights applications has…...
IDWR, farm reach water rights settlement
6+ mon, 3+ day ago (393+ words) Published 11:00 am Friday, September 12, 2025 Idaho District Court Judge Darren Simpson on Sept. 4 accepted a settlement agreement between the state Department of Water Resources and farmers Jerry and Valerie Bingham. The agreement "helps protect the water rights of hundreds of farmers…...
Idaho Legislature panel advances domestic well amendment bill
1+ mon, 2+ week ago (392+ words) Published 10:18 am Wednesday, January 28, 2026 BOISE " The Idaho Senate Resources & Environment Committee on Jan. 26 advanced a proposal to amend a 2025 law that places limitations on domestic wells in residential subdivisions. The committee voted to send Senate Bill 1222 to the full Senate…...
Oregon governor declares drought in Baker, Lincoln counties
8+ mon, 4+ day ago (522+ words) Published 4:47 pm Friday, July 11, 2025 Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek declared drought emergencies July 10 for Baker County in Eastern Oregon and Lincoln County on the Oregon Coast. These are the first and second drought declarations for Oregon this year. No other Oregon…...
Yakima basin reservoirs still low, but rising
3+ mon, 3+ week ago (451+ words) Published 7:31 am Wednesday, November 19, 2025 Fall rains are raising Yakima River basin reservoirs and hopes that irrigators in south-central Washington will have more water next summer. The five reservoirs are still low by historical standards, but the volume of water in…...
Yakima basin reservoirs move closer to normal levels
3+ mon, 5+ day ago (356+ words) Published 2:20 pm Wednesday, December 10, 2025 Yakima River basin reservoirs rose sharply this week, lifting the irrigation-dependent region in Central Washington closer to recovering from last summer's severe drought. Nearly 90,000 acre-feet of water poured into the five reservoirs between Dec. 8 and 10. The…...
Kotek declares drought for Central Oregon’s Jefferson County
5+ mon, 2+ week ago (232+ words) Published 2:19 pm Monday, September 29, 2025 By Capital Press staff Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek declared a drought for Jefferson County in Central Oregon on Sept. 29. Eight counties in Oregon now have state drought emergency declarations, including Baker, Coos, Douglas, Lincoln, Morrow, Wheeler…...
Washington water year cut into irrigation allotments
4+ mon, 3+ week ago (474+ words) Published 8:33 am Tuesday, October 21, 2025 Washington's water year was dry and hot and its effects may linger far into the new water year. The Washington State Climate Office calculates the water year " Oct. 1, 2024, to Sept. 30, 2025 " was the 37th driest and four warmest…...
Twin Falls Canal Co. starts major project
5+ mon, 1+ week ago (448+ words) Published 7:18 am Tuesday, October 7, 2025 Twin Falls Canal Co. plans a major new project designed to improve system efficiency and water supply sustainability. The irrigation delivery company was awarded $26.3 million through the Idaho Water Resource Board's sustainability grant program. Grant funds…...