WASHINGTON—Today, Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson highlighted the inclusion of $1,000,000 in funding for the Bingham County Real Time Ground Water Management Project in Blackfoot, Idaho, at his request through Community Project Funding (CPF) in the Fiscal Year 2025 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Act. 

“During this pivotal time for water resources in Idaho, I am proud to support the Bingham Groundwater District's initiative to implement a comprehensive groundwater conservation project. This project will significantly benefit Idaho's agriculture community and help preserve the aquifer. Ensuring a reliable water supply is critical at this time for the social and economic stability of the Bingham County community, and funding this project will provide long-lasting benefits of water management for years to come,” said Rep. Simpson.

“At a pivotal time when water resources are increasingly constrained, this project provides the basis for sustainable aquifer management and helps secure our nation's food supply. We're excited to put the Ethos technology to use in targeting our conservation efforts to resolve conflicts and provide better drought resilience,” said Alan Jackson, District Manager of the Bingham Ground Water District.

This funding would be used to implement a groundwater telemetry monitoring system, ensuring that irrigators have access to real-time groundwater pumping data. This will allow for increased insights on pumping totals and better management of water allocation. Data collection and sharing will also allow increased collaboration to implement best irrigation practices.   

Despite claims that CPF projects are "wasteful earmarks," Community Project Funding gives Members of Congress like Congressman Simpson the opportunity to bring Idaho tax dollars back home for Idaho priorities. These projects fill a clear and ! need in communities across Idaho and enjoy broad community support. The federal dollars designated for CPF projects exist within existing budget limits. Rather than that money going to fund projects in different states, CPF projects give Idahoans a critical voice in determining where budgeted funding goes.

As Idaho’s only appropriator, Rep. Simpson has a unique opportunity to fight for Idaho’s priorities and ensure Idahoans’ hard-earned tax dollars return to Idaho.

The Bingham County Real Time Ground Water Management Project is a part of the Fiscal Year 2025 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Act. This measure has been approved by the House Appropriations Committee.