Idaho Water Court Close to an End

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (AP) — Officials with a special Idaho court established to handle water rights say they're nearly done going through thousands of water cases. District Judge Eric Wildman presides over the Twin Falls-based Snake River Basin Adjudication Court.

The Times-News reports that Wildman predicted a year ago that the court would be wrapping up this spring. Staff attorney Paul Harrington now says the projected end date has been pushed back by about a year. Harrington says most of the claims have been processed but several water users have appealed rulings from the SRBA court to the Idaho Supreme Court.

Idaho officials created the SRBA as a result of a 1980s agreement involving Idaho Power's water rights at Swan Falls. Since 1987 the court has processed more than 100,000 water rights claims.