BOISE - The Idaho Department of Water Resources this week explained a $20 million proposal to develop models for 10 statewide aquifers, and is expected to include $751,000 to continue updates to the Magic Valley's aquifer model.

To avoid problems similar to those in southern Idaho - where water has been over-appropriated - state lawmakers, water officials and Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter, who included the idea in his State of the State, want to create models for Idaho's aquifers.

IDWR officials, in addressing a Senate committee, said all Idahoans would benefit from water studies since they all use water and the models would decrease litigation and curb some of the uncertainty over water supply.

Hal Anderson, administrator for IDWR, said that all of the water in the aquifers has been appropriated.

"We've gotten behind the power curve," he said.

The proposal is part of a $30 million, 10-year overall plan by IDWR to create the models. Initially, about $5.5 million over two years would be split between the Treasure Valley Aquifer and the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, and $751,000 would continue studies next year for the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer model, Anderson said. The rest would be set aside and phased in while gaining interest.

"It's a state issue. We all use water. We all need it," said Sen. Chuck Coiner, R-Twin Falls.

The aquifer models will be computerized renderings that simulate how an aquifer operates and could help predict how it may act. Most of the work building the models would be contracted out, and $1.6 million would fund three staffers to oversee those building the models. Anderson said that water conservation efforts would be included.

Continued appropriations for the ESPA model, which has been funded for several years, would be included with the new models, but would probably be considered separately by state lawmakers after 2018, Anderson said.

"We wanted it to be a packaged deal," Anderson said. "It's really to be consistent with what's included in the other basins."

But the finances of the proposal piqued the interest of Senate Majority Caucus Chairman Brad Little, R-Emmett, who questioned if the Legislature should be using a surplus for a long-term expenditure, especially with the possibility of an economic recession on the horizon.

"If we keep setting aside $20 million appropriations for 10 years there might not be any money here two years from now," he said after the meeting.

After the meeting, Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, who is co-chairman of state's joint budgeting panel, said he expects the funding for the ESPA to continue, and said he was surprised Little thought setting aside surplus money was uncommon.

He said Magic Valley taxpayers would see benefits off the aquifer models through the state's economy, and by having the funding gain interest for projects down the road.

Before being announced by Otter, the proposals were approved by the Water Resource Board and an interim legislative committee. But Cameron said he hasn't seen any budget requests from IDWR and wasn't sure that Monday's presentation even reflected Otter's wishes. Cameron said that if legislation to fund the models is approved, the order of the aquifers would not be named.

Jared S. Hopkins may be reached at 631-793-5717 or jhopkins@magicvalley.com.