TITLE 42

IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE — WATER RIGHTS AND RECLAMATION

CHAPTER 52

GROUND WATER DISTRICTS

42-5251.  Petition for exclusion of lands — Ground water irrigated lands — Lands of nonirrigator — Lands may remain in the district for mitigation purposes. (1) Any district member who is an irrigator may file with the district board a petition requesting that the member’s irrigated lands be excluded from the district. The petition may request that the lands either be excluded for all purposes or be excluded for all purposes except mitigation. The petition shall be signed by each petitioner, and shall state that continued inclusion of the irrigated lands in the district is inappropriate or unwarranted:

(a)  Because the diversions of ground water under the ground water irrigator’s water right have no depletive effect on any water source, either individually or cumulatively when considered in conjunction with other similar diversions;

(b)  Because the only ground water use associated with the lands sought to be excluded by the petition is a domestic or stock water use as defined by sections 42-111 and 42-1401A, Idaho Code;

(c)  Because the exclusion of the lands will not impair the district’s ability to repay debt or carry out mitigation plans;

(d)  Because the exclusion is in the best interests of the district and its members; or

(e)  For other compelling reasons.

The board shall consider the petition and, based on findings concerning such factors, the board shall grant or deny the petition within ninety (90) days of the date it is filed, unless the board, in its sole discretion, grants a hearing on the petition within such time period, in which case the board shall issue a final decision within sixty (60) days after the conclusion of the hearing.

(2)  Any district member who is a nonirrigator, may file with the district board a petition requesting that the member’s lands be excluded from the district. The petition may request that the lands either be excluded for all purposes or be excluded for all purposes except mitigation. The petition shall be signed by each petitioner, but need not be acknowledged. The board shall consider the petition and grant or deny the petition within ninety (90) days of the date it is filed, unless the board, in its sole discretion, grants a hearing on the petition within such time period, in which case the board shall issue a final decision within sixty (60) days after the conclusion of the hearing.

(3)  All costs incurred by the district in carrying out an exclusion proceeding shall be assessed as provided in section 42-5253, Idaho Code. A person purchasing land under a written contract shall be deemed to be the owner of that land for purposes of this section.

History:

[42-5251, added 1995, ch. 290, sec. 1, p. 1004; am. 2005, ch. 367, sec. 15, p. 1165; am. 2006, ch. 355, sec. 4, p. 1088.]