New details have emerged over Magic Valley water-conservation proposals unveiled last week by Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter, including possibly dipping into $15 million set aside at the end of the 2007 legislative session. But state lawmakers remain puzzled by the surprise announcement and said they're unlikely to approve any funding soon.

On Oct. 26, Otter disclosed plans for several projects that could provide the city of Twin Falls with a new water source, recharge springs that feed the aquaculture industry and pay farmers to stop irrigating as much as 20,000 acres of farmland. But water groups, lawmakers and Twin Falls city officials have said they've had little, if any, dialogue with Otter's office.

Senior GOP members said a source of funding looked at by Otter is $15 million that was part of a $60 million spending bill from the end of the session. The money is for emergency use and its bulk is expected for updating prisons in the next session.

Otter could use the $15 million as he wants, but needs approval from the two chairmen of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, as well as House Speaker Lawerence Denney, and Senate Pro Tem Bob Geddes. The bill became law without Otter's signature.

According to the legislation, the funding must be "essential to maintain the economic stability of the state or the delivery of necessary state services." Otter officials would not confirm if Otter - who's in China on a trade mission - wants to use the $15 million. They haven't given exact funding figures or said how much water can be conserved.

Otter officials have said the projects are not designed to resolve major differences between water users, but rather minimize their injury and maximize water efficiency. They are the result of the water summit from earlier this year, aimed at encouraging dialogue among water groups, state lawmakers and the public.

"We've got a skeleton but we're still trying to put some meat on the bones," said Jon Hanian, Otter's press secretary, adding they're not trying to be secretive and the proposals are a work in progress that could receive funding at the 2008 Legislature.

Shortly before the Oct. 26 news release, Otter officials first told the lawmakers about the proposals and that a package would be mailed to them with details.

Bell and Cameron not only said they're surprised Otter didn't inform them earlier, but also questioned why there's been no input from Idaho Department of Water Resources Director Dave Tuthill and Clive Strong, a natural resources deputy attorney general - whom Bell called "a tremendous asset to the water community."

"You would think the director of water resources would know about it, wouldn't you? Or the legal counsel for the department?" asked Cameron. "If one of them involves the water rights of Fish and Game, maybe they would be involved."

The IDWR has deferred all questions to Otter's office.

Meanwhile, the lawmakers haven't formally met over the proposal, so no money has been appropriated - and it could stay that way.

"My initial reaction is unless someone can justify why it would be an emergency to move right now, it's better suited to have those proposals brought before the Legislature and addressed during the upcoming session," said Cameron.

Bell said Otter is within his right to pick his own projects, but was surprised he did so within the confines of his office.

"You have to give the governor credit for wanting to find a solution and working on it in his office," she said. "The strange thing is that this came from his advisers without any input from the people who would be affected or the people who would pay for this long-term."

The total projects are estimated at $8.4 million and an item to pay farmers to stop irrigating their land would cost $6 million, according to the package Bell got.

The package included something unrelated - several million dollars to begin building a 300-bed addition to a prison in Boise. Bell said the item had been talked about before, but doubted it was an emergency.