Boise, Idaho - December 19, 2003 - The Coalition for Idaho Water today hailed the decision by a federal court in Portland to reject the effort by environmentalists to add Idaho water to an existing court case involving downstream federal dams and salmon recovery issues.

The ruling was in response to a motion filed on behalf of several environmental groups, including Idaho Rivers United, Idaho Steelhead and Salmon Unlimited, and the Idaho Wildlife Federation.

"This decision confirms the common sense logic that we have tried to convey to the environmentalists from the very beginning. Idaho reservoirs are not linked to the downstream federal dams and going after Idaho water is a losing strategy," said Coalition President Norm Semanko.

U.S. District Court Judge James Redden's ruling was issued late on Wednesday and the news regarding the decision was welcomed by water users across the State. The decision recognizes that the Upper Snake River Projects - including dams and reservoirs on the Boise, Payette, and Snake Rivers above Hells Canyon -- have their own, separate biological opinion, which is distinct from the downstream dams.

The court's decision concluded that it would be "inappropriate" to add the Upper Snake issues to the existing lawsuit, in part because those issues have been the subject of "intense discussion" by other parties, including past talks organized by Senator Mike Crapo.

"This decision is nothing short of a total rejection of the litigation strategy employed by the environmental groups. They have openly targeted Idaho water by trying to link Idaho projects to Columbia River salmon recovery issues. That tactic has now been roundly rejected. With this ruling, it is time for these groups and their attorneys to rethink their strategy, abandon their misguided attempts to seize control of Idaho's water, and become part of the solution, rather than part of the problem," Semanko added.

Despite the legal victory, Coalition officials say it is just one victory in the war that has been declared on Idaho by the groups including Idaho Rivers United, American Rivers and other strident environmental groups.

In particular, the judge's ruling highlighted the fact that environmental groups have advised the court that they intend to file a new 60-day notice of intent to sue under the Endangered Species Act, targeted specifically at the Upper Snake River projects.

"These groups have already served notice that they have more lawsuits coming in the pipeline. The Coalition will not rest on this victory. We are determined to stand firm against this attack on Idaho's water," Semanko said.

The Coalition for Idaho Water is composed of more than 45 groups representing agricultural, industrial and commercial water users, as well as Idaho's counties and cities, all with the united purpose of protecting Idaho's water.

A copy of the ruling is available for review on the Internet at www.iwua.org.

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