Representatives of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe met with Kootenai County commissioners on Wednesday to discuss water rights. Helo Hancock, legislative director for the Tribe, explained to commissioners how the federal government files claims on behalf of the Tribe, and why. Tribes are unique in any prior-appropriation water rights state because older water rights take priority over newer rights. It is called "first in time, first in rights." Tribes obviously would have the oldest claims to the water. Tribes and cities are also allowed to claim future water rights if they can prove there is an "express purpose" for doing so, unlike individual water rights which must be put to a "beneficial use" or are lost/Jeff Selle, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here.

Question: Hancock said: "Eventually, it's going to happen; Washington is going to start claiming our water." Do you see any problem with Idaho sharing its water rights with neighboring Washington?