TWIN FALLS — Magic Valley’s dwindling water supply caught the attention of Congress this week and could lead to federal money to study the problem.

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a bill that sets aside $3 million for water shortage studies on the Snake, Boise and Payette river systems. Idaho’s Rep. C.L. “Butch” Otter, a Republican who is running for governor, sponsored the legislation.

The news comes as the Water Resources Board meets in Twin Falls to discuss management strategies for the Eastern Snake River Plain Aquifer, a Lake Erie-sized underground basin providing water to residents from Ashton to King Hill.

“Our communities, our economy and our families all depend on water to survive, grow and prosper,” Otter told House members on Monday.

The bill would give the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation the authority to look at ways to increase water supply on the three rivers.

On Thursday and Friday, Idaho’s Water Resources Board will be in Twin Falls to sort through plans to manage the aquifer, as directed to by the Legislature this year. Magic Valley residents have been involved in administrative and legal battles over water in the past few years as supplies ran short.

The Idaho Water Users Association, comprised of farmers and industry, generally supports Otter’s legislation, said Norm Semanko, executive director.

“Idaho cannot afford to stick its head in the sand when it comes to the issue of our water supplies both in the near term and down the road,” he said.

Otter’s bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, on which Idaho Sen. Larry Craig sits.

Times-News reporter Michelle Dunlop can be reached at 735-3237 or by e-mail at mdunlop@magicvalley.com.

Water governance in action The Water Resources Board will meet beginning at 8:30 a.m. Thursday and Friday at the Shilo Inn. The meetings are open to the public. For more information, visit http://www.idwr.idaho.gov/waterboard