Boise, Idaho • Legislative leaders announced Wednesday Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter might call a special legislative session to address a water battle that has been building in southwestern Idaho.
Senate President Pro Tem Brent Hill said all stakeholders have reached an agreement regarding flood control releases in the Boise River system reservoirs, which spans from Boise to Parma.
“I am sorry to have to tell you about the special session, but very grateful for the finalization of an agreement on this important issue,” Hill, R-Rexburg, said in an email to state senators.
Since 2013, Treasure Valley irrigators and state officials have been caught up in a lengthy legal clash over how much water users are entitled to during snow-heavy years when reservoirs tend to be full and thus water must be released in the early spring to maintain enough space for snow runoff and manage river flows.