TITLE 42

IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE — WATER RIGHTS AND RECLAMATION

CHAPTER 51

GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS

42-5102.  Ground water management district formation. For purposes of formation of a ground water management district, a petition shall be presented to the department of water resources which shall set forth the object of the organization of the district and the benefits to be provided by the district. The petition shall be accompanied by a map of the proposed district which shall indicate the proposed boundaries of the district, which shall include territory only within the boundaries of a critical ground water area or ground water management area designated by the director of the department of water resources.

The petition shall be signed by no less than fifty percent (50%), measured by the quantities of their various water rights, of the water users located within the proposed boundaries of the district. For purposes of this chapter, "water users" shall include the following:

(1)  Individuals, or entities, who are the current holders of a right, acquired in accordance with the provisions of chapter 2, title 42, Idaho Code, or chapter 14, title 42, Idaho Code, to appropriate water and to divert water from the aquifer by means of a well or wells, or who divert water from springs or other water courses emerging from such aquifer, or both.

(2)  Cities which obtain water from the aquifer. A city may elect to be included within the proposed district by a majority vote of the members of its city council. The mayor of any city so electing may sign the petition on behalf of the city, and such city shall constitute one (1) water user for purposes of securing the minimum number of signatures required for the petition.

(3)  Federal, state, or county government agencies which obtain water from the aquifer.

History:

[42-5102, added 1987, ch. 349, sec. 1, p. 765.]