Senate Resources kills Cocolalla minimum lake level resolution

The Senate Resources Committee has voted to kill a resolution approving a new water right for a minimum lake level at Cocolalla Lake, and introduced a new measure to reject it. “There were some questions about it,” said committee Chairman Monty Pearce, R-New Plymouth.

Brian Patton of the Idaho Department of Water Resources told the panel that since he presented the resolution earlier, and the committee approved it unanimously, “Some controversy has developed surrounding this proposal that didn’t appear to be previously evident. On Wednesday of this week the Bonner County commissioners voted to oppose this proposal. The water resource board does not wish to move forward with this if it’s opposed by the local community … so … the board will cancel its water rights permit … and would like to withdraw its submittal to the Legislature.”

The committee’s vote was unanimous with no discussion; Pearce said the panel will hold a new hearing next week on the bill to reject the idea.