Idaho

Idaho's water future – Governor commits more funding to preserving eastern Snake Plain aquifer – Local News 8

Published

1 year ago

August 27, 2024

Idaho's water future – Governor commits more funding to preserving eastern Snake Plain aquifer – Local News 8

RIGBY, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho’s Governor is committing another $10-million to projects designed to improve the Eastern Snake Plain aquifer. Governor Brad Little announced the investment Tuesday, alongside groundwater and surface water users in Rigby.

“My top priority has always been and will continue to be maintaining a strong ag economy in eastern Idaho while preserving water for future generations. The added funds we announced today will get the water levels in the aquifer headed in the right direction. It is part of an overall strategy to maintain our water destiny here in Idaho. Ultimately farmers, not government mandates, will drive the solutions. I am very excited about the momentum that farmers are building to strike a deal,” Governor Little said.

In connection with his executive order directing the Idaho Water Resource Board (Water Board) to prioritize projects that have net benefits to the aquifer, the Governor says he is directing the Water Board to allocate the additional $10 million to projects that could drastically improve the water supply in both eastern Idaho and the Magic Valley.

“I’m encouraged by the progress we’re making toward real, lasting solutions. We’ve been able to come together and identify projects that will secure senior water right holders’ supply, preserve the aquifer, and maintain Idaho’s strong ag economy. The funding announced by Governor Little will be tremendously helpful as we build out and implement the infrastructure to achieve those objectives,” said Bingham County farmer Adam Young.

The move comes after Little signed an executive order in late June, bringing an end to a water curtailment that would have dried up nearly 330,000 acres of farmland.

Under the agreement, farmers in eastern Idaho and the Magic Valley have until October 1st to finalize a new permanent agreement on managing the water moving forward. For more details, click HERE.

In regards to the negotiations, Governor Little said, “I continue to be impressed by the mitigation plan negotiations spearheaded by Lt. Governor Scott Bedke and Chairman Jeff Raybould. Farmers talking and deciding their future is ALWAYS better than a government solution. I will fight tooth and nail against the federal government to retain control of our water for eastern Idaho’s agricultural economy. That means farmers making decisions for themselves.”

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Idaho

Looking forward to another year of East Idaho Sports – East Idaho News

Published

10 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Press Room

Looking forward to another year of East Idaho Sports – East Idaho News

Note: As a bonus to our readers who have followed us into Year 2, the East Idaho Sports staff will post a special story on Sundays – Could be a column, opinion, feature, or just something fun and goofy. Hope you enjoy, and thanks again for coming along on this journey.

EASTERN IDAHO — Dec. 31 marked the end of the first full calendar year of East Idaho Sports. It has been a pleasure to bring our readers coverage of local youth, high school, college and semi-pro sports.

Over the last 12 months, we have covered state champions, national champions, junior hockey league champions, record-breaking performances and so much more. Those of you who have followed along since we launched in August 2024 have seen how we have expanded our coverage to include some interactive features like this Sunday Special series, Game Balls and the Photo of the Week voting.

We look forward to the completion of the winter sports seasons — including some Winter Olympics stories — spring sports, the summer sports schedule and returning next fall to start it all over again.

But we also hope to continue adding to our coverage, and shine spotlights on even more of the great athletes and sports programs in eastern Idaho.

In order to do that, we would like some help.

With just two full-time reporters and one freelance photographer we will regrettably miss things. And while we try to fill those gaps ourselves, we are always open to tips.

If there was a sporting event or sports story that deserved coverage it didn’t receive, please email us at sports@eastidahonews.com. If there is an upcoming event that should be spotlighted, please email us.

Also, our Photo of the Week stories will continue to be posted midday every Monday. If you have photos from a local sporting event that you want to enter in the running, email those to us by Sunday morning. For those who follow the voting — on our public Facebook group East Idaho News – Sports — a reader-contributed photo was recently selected our Photo of the YEAR, and we would love to continue adding those on the weekly ballot.

This photo of West Jefferson’s Justus Burtenshaw during the first round of the state tournament, taken by reader Julie Hall, was selected out East Idaho Sports Photo of the Year.

Finally, we recently added a regular feature we are calling the “Whip-around”: A quick rundown of local high school sports action. In order to expand these stories to include more teams, we would love for coaches, players or parents to send us photos of game scorebooks. If you are linked to a local team and would like your team to be added to these stories, please email us, and we can let you know how to do so.

It has been a pleasure to highlight the many local athletes for their successes and hard work, and we look forward to another year of precisely that.

We will see you at a field, court, course, pool, etc., near you in 2026.