KETCHUM, Idaho-Irrigation water to several hundred farmers in Lincoln County has been cut off because of low water in Magic Reservoir.
The Idaho Mountain Express reports (http://bit.ly/14Yk2vn) that irrigation ended late last month for water users of the Big Wood Canal Co.
"It's exhausted," said Carl Pendleton, board chair of the Big Wood Canal Co. "It's disturbing, but it's Mother Nature."
The reservoir is at 2.5 percent of its capacity of 200,000 acre feet. Water from the Big Wood River is now being diverted upstream to water users in the Bellevue Triangle. Officials say the snowpack for the Big Wood River drainage was only about 68 percent of normal.
Pendleton said crop losses will likely be in the millions of dollars. Most growers were anticipating a short water year and avoided crops that bring in more money but require more water such as potatoes, sugar beets and corn.
SOURCE: Capital Press
http://www.capitalpress.com/newsletter/AP-ID-Magic-reservoir-1st-ld