The 2008 Legislature was marked by tightening budgets in difficult times.

Still, the Magic Valley - particularly in its struggles with water - made out pretty well.

While lawmakers have been criticized, including some within the Legislature, for leaving unresolved a handful of issues, such as ways to cover a $240 million shortfall in transportation funding, they never took their eyes off water.

In south-central Idaho, water appears to balance any of the losses. The Legislature approved $10 million toward a complicated $26 million project aimed at giving Twin Falls more water and helping solve disputes between Magic Valley surface water users and groundwater pumpers. It also approved $1.4 million to study increasing the height of Minidoka Dam for additional water, and $20 million for aquifer management, some of which will go ward the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer.

Lawmakers touted the money to purchase the Pristine Springs Inc. 400-acre ranch and hatchery nestled in the Snake River Canyon just west of the Perrine Bridge. The deal includes fish farms, water rights for more than 200 cubic feet per second of water - about 129 million gallons a day - and two power plants currently contracted with Idaho Power Co.

"That was by far the most important item for the Magic Valley," said Rep. Fred Wood, R-Burley, who sits on the state's budget committee. "That was huge."

The funding for 10 aquifer models will include updates to the Magic Valley's aquifer model. But the intention of the $30 million, 10-year overall plan is to avoid problems similar to those in southern Idaho where water may be over-appropriated.

Meanwhile, the dam study will determine the cost - IDWR officials estimate $100 million to $300 million - and how much additional water could be stored. Consultants have said four to five feet could bring in 40,000 to 50,000 acre-feet of water.

The pieces of legislation are noteworthy because they survived a session during significantly declining revenues and a slumping economy. January's tax revenue was about $36 million behind predictions, and the following months have been below original projections.

The $26 million deal was crafted several months ago by Clive Strong, an Idaho deputy attorney general, and with the assistance of Idaho Department of Water Resources and Joint Finance Appropriations Committee Co-chairmen Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, and Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert.

"It was a miracle," Bell said.

The project will add water to the depleting sources in Twin Falls and improve the federal water-quality standards the city has struggled to meet. Other water rights will be with the IDWR board. The rest will satisfy the mitigation ruling related to Blue Lakes Trout Company.

"I don't want the public to misunderstand that this solves everything," Cameron. "It doesn't. But it certainly goes a long away to at least solving the initial call."

Jared S. Hopkins may be reached at 208-735-3204 or jhopkins@magicvalley.com.