Where does the article say that the irrigation district was subsidized by the government? It says the farmers owned the water rights and they sold them because basically they were forced to do it. The federal government BLM is all about putting the "rights" of animals before the rights of citizens of this country and wanted to buy it " for the salmon......"
Why do you want the federal government to take over water resources in Idaho?
Are you a globalist who hates to see private Americans owning water rights?
If there is a Farmer ... there is a subsidy.
FedGov has retained ownership of navigable water in Alaska. That includes authority over water that feeds navigable water and runoff that drains into creeks that feed navigable water. Which is to say, authority over design of parking lots that abut creeks and drainages.