Southern Idaho Water Districts To Purchase Hagerman Fish Farms

The Times News is reporting today that the  Idaho Water Resource Board is working on financing for a $34 million buyout of three Thousand Springs fish farms by a group of Idaho water districts. In an article in today’s edition

the paper says a bond sale to fund the deal is set to wrap up by Feb. 8.  After that the water board will loan the proceeds to the districts making the purchase according to Brian Patton, planning bureau chief for the Idaho Department of Water Resources.  The Aberdeen-American Falls, Bingham, Magic Valley and North Snake groundwater districts plan to purchase the Blue Lakes Trout, Clear Lakes Trout and Rim View Trout fish farms and their associated water rights which will give the water districts the resources to solve current and future water calls by senior water users.  The districts will repay the $34 million to the water board over the next 20 years.