Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Idaho officials announce water rights settlement

Leaders of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and Idaho state officials announced a water rights settlement agreement following more than a decade of lawsuits and negotiations. Tribal Council Chairman Chief Allan, Tribal Council Member Ernest Stensgar, Idaho Gov. Brad Little and Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced the Coeur d’Alene Tribe Water Rights Settlement Agreement during a March 5 ceremony in Boise, according to the Idaho Capital Sun.

The Idaho Attorney General’s Office said that under the agreement the tribe will receive certain quantities of water tied to its federally reserved water rights and control of water resources within the Coeur d’Alene Reservation, according to the Idaho Capital Sun. The agreement authorizes the creation of a tribal water supply bank and allows the tribe to lease water off the reservation. In exchange, the tribe agreed to recognize existing state law-based water rights dating to September 2023 and protect an additional 10,000 acre-feet per year of future state water rights. Officials said the agreement will be sent to the Idaho Legislature and the U.S. Congress for ratification.