Butte County Farmers Seek Emergency Stay on Water Curtailment

Surface Water Coalition and Groundwater Districts File Joint Request to Pause Shutdowns

Apr. 17, 2026 at 9:08pm

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A conceptual illustration using bold geometric shapes and primary colors to represent the complex tensions between surface water and groundwater users in Idaho's agricultural economy.As Idaho's water rights dispute continues, farmers seek emergency relief to keep their crops irrigated during the critical growing season.Lost River Today

In a potential breakthrough for Butte County agriculture, the Surface Water Coalition (SWC) and Idaho's groundwater districts have filed a joint request asking the state to temporarily pause an ongoing water curtailment order that has paralyzed local farms. The move comes after the Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR) denied a previous motion to stay the curtailment, forcing farmers to shut off their irrigation pumps mid-season despite many having already planted crops.

Why it matters

The ongoing water rights dispute in the Big Lost and Little Lost basins highlights the complex legal and environmental challenges facing Idaho's agricultural communities. The SWC's request for an emergency stay aims to provide temporary relief while the parties work towards a long-term solution that complies with Idaho's 'first in time, first in right' water law and protects the viability of the 2024 Mitigation Plan.

The details

The joint filing petitions the IDWR to keep the water flowing through at least May 4, 2026, providing a window for a technical review to determine if three new districts can be added to the 2024 Stipulated Mitigation Plan without harming existing members. The ongoing curtailment stems from Idaho's 'prior appropriation' doctrine, which requires junior groundwater users to join an approved mitigation plan to avoid having their water shut off in order to protect senior surface water rights holders.

  • On April 17, 2026, the Surface Water Coalition and Idaho's groundwater districts filed a joint request for an emergency stay on the IDWR's water curtailment order.
  • On April 16, 2026, IDWR Director Matt Weaver denied a previous motion to pause the curtailment, forcing farmers to shut off their irrigation pumps mid-season.
  • The parties are scheduled to reconvene on May 4, 2026, for a status conference to review the findings of the technical review and determine the next steps for the 2024 Mitigation Plan.

The players

Surface Water Coalition

A coalition of surface water users in Idaho that filed the joint request for an emergency stay on the water curtailment order.

Idaho's Groundwater Districts

Groundwater irrigation districts in Idaho that joined the Surface Water Coalition in filing the request for an emergency stay.

Matt Weaver

The Director of the Idaho Department of Water Resources, who denied a previous motion to pause the water curtailment order.

Alan Hansten

The chairman of the Surface Water Coalition, who stated that the coalition is committed to reaching a solution that complies with Idaho law and supports all water users.

Lara Herway

The executive director of the Idaho Ground Water Appropriators, who claimed that farmers in Butte County acted in good faith and should not have their water shut off.

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What they’re saying

“It is never our desire for any water to be shut off. Our members recognize the challenges facing farmers in Butte County. That is why SWC has taken this step in good faith to ask IDWR to keep water flowing while the parties and IDWR complete the necessary technical review of the First Addendum to the 2024 Mitigation Plan.”

— Alan Hansten, Chairman, Surface Water Coalition

“Right now, there are farmers in Butte County who planted crops in good faith and still can't turn on a pump. That's not a water law problem—IGWA and our members acted in good faith.”

— Lara Herway, Executive Director, Idaho Ground Water Appropriators

What’s next

If the IDWR accepts the request, it would provide immediate relief to Butte County agriculture while the parties work toward a solution. Over the next three weeks, technical experts from all sides will evaluate data and the terms of a 'First Addendum' to the 2024 plan to ensure that adding these new districts won't negatively impact the users already enrolled.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex legal and environmental challenges facing Idaho's agricultural communities, as they navigate the state's 'first in time, first in right' water law and work to find collaborative solutions that protect senior water rights while supporting the long-term viability of the region's farms and communities.