A Little Dam Problem: How Idaho Almost Lost Control of the Snake River

by Jim Jones

Retired Idaho Supreme Court Chief Justice Jim Jones has written a new book about a decades old legal battle over control of the water rights in the Snake River valley that still affects water policy and politics in Idaho. Jones tells how an ugly water fight produced new water laws to protect Idaho’s future. The Idaho Supreme Court issued a surprising decision in November 1982, practically handing over control of the Snake River to Idaho Power Company. The decision sparked one of the most contentious, high-stakes water battles in Idaho history. Democrat Governor John Evans and Republican Attorney General Jim Jones teamed up to regain state control of Snake River waters. The struggle proceeded through the Idaho Legislature, the courts, the election process, the forum of public opinion and all the way to Washington, D.C. In his new book A Little Dam How Idaho almost lost control of the Snake River Jim Jones gives a blow-by-blow description of the fight through its conclusion at the state level and as it continued through the U.S. Congress. He highlights the personalities, the heated rhetoric, the chicanery, and the public policy issues involved. It is an interesting and engrossing work on our most important natural resource, on formation of public policy, and on gut-level politics.

385 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 29, 2017

Reviews

[Fred Diamond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great history of Idaho's water politics and the struggle between greed and need. AG Jones did a wonderful job and Idahoans should be proud and thankful.

[Larry Bethke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Acclamations for Jim Jones


A MUST READ by any water user in the State of IDAHO ! JONES a Savior for IDAHO'S WATER. AMEN