BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Legislation that supporters say is critical to preserving a historic water agreement between two sets of water users and is intended to prevent declines in a giant Idaho aquifer relied on by farmers and cities has passed out of a Senate committee.
The Senate Resources and Environment Committee voted unanimously Monday to send to bill to the Senate for possible amendments.
A similar bill failed on a tie vote last week, but the committee voted to reconsider the bill on Monday after several technical changes.
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The 2015 agreement is intended to stabilize the level of the Lake Erie-sized Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer so that surface users and groundwater pumpers have a reliable source of water.
The legislation would give the state additional authority to cut off water to groundwater pumpers ignoring the agreement.
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