Magic Valley Water Pumpers Fighting Water Shutoff

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (AP) — Idaho officials have ordered south-central Idaho ground water pumpers to stop taking water from an underground aquifer, but pumpers are asking a judge to block the curtailment.

Idaho Department of Water Resources Director Gary Spackman on Tuesday ordered the curtailment for about 500 water rights holders after the Idaho Ground Water Association failed to meet a weekend deadline.

The association was supposed to build a pipe to replace water belonging to Rangen Inc., a Hagerman-based fish farm and feed producer. It has senior water rights but hasn't been getting its share of water due to groundwater pumping from the East Snake Plain Aquifer.

The Times-News reports (http://bit.ly/1yKYqGv) that the association on Tuesday filed a motion to stay the curtailment with Judge Eric Wildman of the Snake River Basin Adjudication Court.