HAGERMAN - It was just two days ago a state aquifer-management plan was presented to the Legislature, and already parts of the plan are under way.

The Idaho Water Resource Board wants to meet with senior water-right holders near Hagerman who may be interested in selling or subordinating their rights to the state - a key component in the aquifer plan.

The water board hopes the buyouts will decrease water demand and prevent water calls in perhaps a portion of the state hit hardest by a depleted aquifer.

"This is an alternative to decreasing the overall demand for water," said Hal Anderson, board spokesman. "It's a willing seller, willing buyer sort of thing - we're trying to buy down liability."

Senior water-right holders in the Thousand Springs stretch of the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer have experienced decreased flows in recent years, prompting some of them to make water calls - requests that the state's water director curtail junior right-holders to fill senior holders' decreed rights.

Water calls sometimes end in costly lawsuits, and Anderson said everyone involved in water disputes is tired of spending thousands of dollars on attorneys. Water-right holders can subordinate their rights to the board, which essentially means giving up their ability to make a water call.

The board hopes buying up water rights near Hagerman also will reduce demand.

Last year, the Legislature allocated about $5 million that the board may use for the buyouts. The board also proposed to the Legislature this week an additional $10 million for the buyout part of the aquifer management plan; several lawmakers seemed reluctant to grant the hefty sum.

Even if the board doesn't get the $10 million requested this week, it'll still spend the $5 million for Hagerman-area water rights.

According to the aquifer management plan, the buyout strategy could be used in other parts of the aquifer plain, as well. But the board wants to address suffering spring users first.

Times-News staff writer Matt Christensen covers natural resources. Contact him at 735-3243 and at matt.christensen@lee.net.

A sellers' market The Idaho Water Resource Board will host a public meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Hagerman Valley Senior Center, 140 E. Lake St. The board will present information about water shortages at Thousand Springs and speak with water-right holders willing to sell or subordinate their rights to the state.