POCATELLO — Assembled among water organization leaders and farmers, Gov. Brad Little and Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke convened for a meeting at Idaho State University on Wednesday morning to address growing concerns surrounding water rights and the East Idaho aquifer.

After opening comments from Bedke that included a call to action to resolve Idaho’s water issues once and for all, Little took to the podium at the ICCU Bengal Alumni Center to detail and announce a new executive order.

The order, titled the Protecting Idaho Water Sovereignty Act, will attempt to improve understanding of the aquifer and coordinate efforts via the Idaho Department of Water Resources to bolster and improve water supply modeling technology through partner organizations. The effort will require the partnership of Idaho farmers, ranchers, universities and industries, among others.

Part of the order will also see Little recommend the Idaho Legislature convene the Interim Natural Resources Committee prior to the 2025 legislative session to “identify predictable and consistent opportunities to enhance the state’s water infrastructure,” according to the executive order document.

Additionally, Little has ordered the Idaho Water Resources board to prioritize funding for projects that will benefit the Eastern Snake River Plain Aquifer and make water use in the state more efficient.

In his executive order Little details his plan to bring together industries and stakeholders, generally private sector organizations and individuals, to propose solutions for Idaho’s long-term water sustainability in an effort to avoid reliance on the federal government.

Firm dates were also set and explained in the executive order that require the groundwater management plan created by the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer Groundwater Management Plan Advisory Council to be submitted for review by the Idaho Department of Water Resources by Sept. 1.

Per the 2024 water stipulation deal that saved 330,000 acres of Idaho farmland from large-scale water curtailment, “the groundwater users and surface water users will meet to establish an improved mitigation plan as soon as possible, no later than Oct. 1, 2024,” according to the executive order document.

The water stipulation deal was brokered by Little and Bedke earlier this month and has been signed by all parties and submitted to the Idaho Department of Water Resources for approval. When officially approved, the department will lift the water curtailment for all nine groundwater districts whose patrons irrigate with groundwater from the Eastern Snake River Plain Aquifer.

“We did what Idahoans do best — worked together to find a solution,” Little said. “Everyone compromised and now we’re focusing on a long-term solution that fits the latest science, meets the needs of all water users, and conserves our water for future generations. The solutions shouldn’t come from the government. They should be carefully crafted by the water users themselves.”

Little continued, “Water is truly the lifeblood of Idaho. It supports our communities, energy production, recreation, our economy and, most of all, agriculture. Farmers will always be the backbone of our state and our country. Agriculture is our way of life in Idaho.”