The Idaho Legislature is holding two days of hearings on a proposed water settlement with the Nez Perce Tribe.

The agreement ends one of the longest running water rights disputes in the West. The tribe would receive 50,000 acre-feet of water a year for its reservation, a $50 million multiple-use trust fund, a $23 million water supply and sewer system and $7 million worth of land.

President Bush signed the settlement into law but it still needs approval at the state level by March 31. Some lawmakers say they are giving up state sovereignty over the Snake River.

The hearings are being held on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Get the Story:
Water rights comes center stage before lawmakers (KTVB 2/21)
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Nez Perce Water Agreement In Sight? (KBCI 2/21)

Relevant Links:
Nez Perce Tribe - http://www.nezperce.org

Related Stories:
Nez Perce water rights deal revived in onmibus (11/22)
Nez Perce Tribe's water deal killed in Senate (10/27)
Nez Perce Tribe calls for protection of salmon (08/13)
Senate committee takes up Nez Perce water deal (07/21)
Deal proposed to resolve Idaho tribe's water rights (05/17)