BOISE, ID — Idaho officials and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe announced Thursday they have reached a proposed settlement aimed at resolving decades of litigation over water rights in North Idaho.
Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador, Idaho Gov. Brad Little and tribal leaders signed the agreement during a ceremony in Boise. The settlement outlines how certain tribal federal reserved water rights and existing state-based water rights would be recognized across the Coeur d’Alene–Spokane River Basin.
Under the proposal, the Tribe would recognize and protect most existing water rights issued under Idaho law with priority dates of Sept. 6, 2023, or earlier. The agreement also allows recognition of up to 10,000 acre-feet per year of additional state-based water rights intended to support future growth in North Idaho communities.
The settlement would also establish defined quantities of water associated with the Tribe’s federal reserved water rights and affirm the Tribe’s authority to manage water resources within the reservation. The agreement authorizes the creation of a tribal water supply bank that could allow the Tribe to lease water outside the reservation.
State officials said the agreement does not require direct payments from Idaho taxpayers. The Tribe plans to seek about $500 million from Congress for water infrastructure and other projects related to implementation, though the settlement would remain in effect regardless of the level of federal funding approved.
Water rights tied to the reservation date back to its creation by executive order in 1873. Courts, including the Idaho Supreme Court in 2019, have determined that the Tribe holds federal reserved water rights on the reservation with some priority dates predating most existing water uses in the basin.
Adjudication of water rights in North Idaho began in 2008 and has involved numerous stakeholders, including regional cities, Benewah County, property owner groups and private companies.
The proposed settlement still requires approval by the Idaho Legislature and authorization from Congress before it can take effect.
