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Ammon approves water mitigation agreement with Pocatello to avoid water‑rights curtailment
Summary
The council approved a Water Rights Lease Agreement with the City of Pocatello for $36,701.18 to support mitigation that avoids potential water‑rights curtailment; staff discussed potential groundwater recharge credit from the wastewater plant pending DEQ standards.
The Ammon City Council on May 21 approved a Water Rights Lease Agreement with the City of Pocatello for $36,701.18 intended to mitigate the risk of water‑rights curtailment by converting irrigation systems from potable water to surface water.
City Administrator Micah Austin described the agreement as a mitigation plan that facilitates conversion of irrigation from potable supplies to surface water, reducing the risk of curtailment of junior water rights. Attorney Rob Harris of Holden, Kidwell, Hahn & Crapo explained that the agreement is designed to provide the mitigation needed to avoid curtailment. City Attorney Scott Hall asked whether the city could obtain credit from groundwater recharge from the wastewater treatment plant; Harris said that could be an option if Department of Environmental Quality standards can be met.
Council President Scott Wessel moved and Council Member Heidi Boyle seconded approval of the Water Rights Lease Agreement in the amount of $36,701.18. The roll‑call vote was: Wheeler, yes; Oswald, absent; Wessel, yes; Boyle, yes; Fullmer, yes; Hamberlin, yes. The motion passed unanimously among members present.
Staff did not finalize operational details at the meeting; possible recharge credit and any DEQ requirements were left as follow‑up items.
