Lewiston council adopts comprehensive-plan amendment to incorporate state groundwater rules

The Lewiston City Council on a September 2025 regular meeting approved Resolution 2025-21 to amend the Envision Lewiston 2044 comprehensive plan to include language requiring the city to consider the effect of plan changes on the source, quantity and quality of groundwater and to note that applicants must use surface water where "reasonably available" under new state law.

Assistant City Planner Katie Hollingshead told the council the legislature added the requirement to Idaho Code and the city’s current plan does not contain the precise language. Hollingshead pointed the council to the precise pages in the Envision Lewiston 2044 plan where the text will be inserted and said the Planning & Zoning Commission had recommended approval. "So the amendment that is in front of you tonight is to add that specifically to our comprehensive plan," Hollingshead said.

Barney Metz, identified in staff materials as general manager of the Lewis And Orchards Irrigation District and speaking to the Planning & Zoning Commission earlier, told staff the irrigation district and the Idaho Water Users Association support the change because groundwater resources are under stress as growth continues.

Council members asked how the state phrase "reasonably available" would be interpreted locally. City Attorney Jennifer Tingano told the council that "reasonably available" is defined in Idaho code (67-6537) and said the city would follow the statute’s criteria when determining whether surface water is reasonably available in a given case.

Councilors also raised concerns about potential cost impacts for smaller or infill developers who might face hookup expenses; staff said land-use approval is the first step and that subsequent subdivision review would involve public works and engineering to address infrastructure and costs.

Councilor Schroeder moved to approve Resolution 2025-21; Councilor Forsman seconded and the council voted to adopt the amendment. The council closed the public hearing before voting after noting no members of the public offered testimony. The amendment will be implemented by resolution and by updating the plan text in the specified pages of Envision Lewiston 2044.

Next steps: the city will incorporate the new language into the comprehensive plan document and use the statute’s criteria when reviewing land-use applications that implicate surface and groundwater availability.