The reason given to us was for the “protection

[samiaseo222]

In 1986 we were asked (required) to file a water right claim on our springs along with the Snake River Basin Adjudication. Being good citizens and thinking this was the right thing to do, many private springs were registered. Of course the United States government wouldn't ask anyone to do anything that would “hurt” one of its citizens! ” of our water source from any person encroaching on our spring. It appears that the real reason was to prepare a list of all springs so the United States and the Tribe could use this list to file a duplicate claim on our water, as that is what has actually happened. The following quotes are taken from the letter I received from the State of Idaho, Office of the Attorney General:

According to the records of the Idaho Department of phone number list Water Resources (IDWR) and the District Court overseeing the Snake River Basin Adjudication (SRBA), the Nez Perce Tribe, and the United States as trustee for the Nez Perce Tribe, may have filed a water right claim for a spring located on your property. The Tribe and the United States claim the right to the use of 50% of the flow of all springs on certain former tribal lands for stock water, wildlife, cultural, and ceremonial purposes.

The Tribe and the United States developed their claims, in part, by examining water right claims on file with IDWR. Whenever they discovered a private water right claim on former tribal lands with a point of diversion listed as a “spring,” they filed a duplicate claim. The private claims used by the United States and the Tribe as the basis for their claims are listed in the enclosed report: “Springs and Fountains Claims on Behalf of the Nez Perce Tribe in Reporting Areas 19, 22, and 24.” If your claim number is on that list, then the United States and the Tribe claim ownership of the spring that is the source of your water right claim.