Ownership of the Pristine Springs fish farm near Twin Falls changed following a series of transactions in April.
The ownership change aims to address conflicts between spring water users and ground water users in the Magic Valley, and to provide the city of Twin Falls with a fresh water source to improve the quality of its water supply and provide for future growth of the city, the Idaho Department of Water Resources said in a release. It also addresses the 2005 Blue Lakes Trout Farm call for water from junior rights holders, and a lawsuit.
The Idaho Water Resource Board, in a partnership with the city of Twin Falls, North Snake and Magic Valley ground water districts, completed the transactions. The water districts will pay $11 million in total - $1 million initially, plus $10 million and interest for 10 years as part of a loan from the Idaho Water Resource Board, the Department of Water Resources stated.
The water provided by the water districts will avoid the need to curtail as many as 30,000 acres of groundwater-irrigated farmland, thereby avoiding an estimated economic impact of $80 million to $100 million to the region, the department said.
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