Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, along with other western colleagues, are sponsoring a measure led by Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) to prevent federal agencies from requiring the transfer of privately-held water rights to the federal government.
“Recently, federal agencies have begun to violate and undermine state water laws throughout western states, including Idaho,” said Crapo. “This power-grab by the administration to hold public land-use permits hostage is threatening our local communities and could very well set a precedent that could spread to other land-industry sectors, such as agriculture. The private water rights of our western states must be upheld before long-standing businesses are put in serious jeopardy.”