BURLEY - Some local farmers believe Cassia County has taken its penchant for dairies a little too far.

Members of the Southwest Irrigation District met this week with Cassia County commissioners to tell them that the number of dairies is hurting two critical groundwater areas - near the Burley Butte and in Raft River.

Grant Wyatt, a spokesman for the Southwest Irrigation District, told commissioners the number of dairies is lowering the water table.

"We're not here against dairies, but we think the dairy deal has gotten out of hand," Wyatt said. "We are in a critical groundwater area and do not have enough water to support the way dairies are doing things."

Wyatt accused dairy operators of "double cropping," - planting tritacale, a type of grain, then harvesting it and planting corn for silage.

"No way do we have that kind of water," Wyatt said. Brian Higgs, on behalf of the groundwater users, told the commission the Southwest Irrigation District has been trying since 2001 to get its current groundwater management plan accepted by the Idaho Department of Water Resources.

"The data has been submitted, they just aren't making a decision," Higgs said. "I am submitting to you several hydrographs showing that groundwater levels are dropping everywhere."

He said wells that measured at 350 feet in 1962 are now at about 440 to 450 feet. After discussing water issues, Wyatt told the commission that the location of the dairies is another concern. When he attempted to speak about a proposed dairy on the Burley Butte, county attorney Al Barrus reminded Wyatt the commission may have to sit in judgment of that future proposal and could not discuss the permit.

Wyatt also suggested that continued expansion of the dairy industry would hurt the area's sugar and potato industries.

Richard Garrard told the commission there are 407,000 animal units on confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in Cassia County.

By contrast, there are only 325,000 acres of irrigated ground in the county, and that includes the pastures in the south and east portions of the county in the Almo and Goose Creek areas.

Wyatt suggested the commission establish an emergency moratorium on new dairies until more studies can be done to determine the saturation point. A 90-day moratorium adopted in August recently expired.

Commissioner Paul Christensen agreed that until the county gets a handle on the mapping and knows just where the saturation is, no more dairies should be considered. He made a motion for a moratorium, but it was not seconded.

The commissioners agreed, however, to study the issues surrounding new dairies before many more are allowed. They took the issue under advisement, but later discovered a law that says the county must wait a full year before putting another moratorium on dairies.

Dairy saturation? What: Dairy debate, Cassia County Commission When: 9 a.m. Monday Where:Cassia County Courthouse, 1459 Overland Ave., Burley For more information: (208) 878-7302