Comprehensive Aquifer Planning Program

Status Update

Helen Harrington October 22, 2009

Aquifer Planning & Management Fund

• • Established by the Idaho Legislature in 2008 Created Aquifer Planning and Management Program under the authority of the Idaho Water Resource Board

Purpose

• • • • Establish framework and path forward which will lead to sustainable water supplies and optimum use of water Conduct statewide comprehensive aquifer planning and management effort over a 10-year period Avoid the Eastern Snake Plain type conflicts in other areas of the state Develop management plans for selected basins with potential water supply issues, ground-surface water conflicts or other conflicts

Initial CAMP Aquifers

ESPA Rathdrum Prairie Treasure Valley

Status & Progress

• • • • Funding reduced due to budget holdbacks ($20 million to $8 million) Adjustment of tasks and studies Initiated work in Rathdrum Prairie and Treasure Valley Future basins will await funding

Stakeholder and Public Involvement

• Contract for public issues scoping and facilitation services • Establish Technical and Policy Advisory Committees o Rathdrum Prairie: Situation Assessment complete; in process of establishing advisory committees (November) o Treasure Valley: Scoping in progress; establish committees in January 2010 (?)

CAMP Studies

Global Studies (all basins) – Situation Assessment (issues scoping) – Future Water Demands (50-year outlook) – Climate Change Impacts – Computer Modeling of Ground Water Systems

Tentative Basin-Specific Studies

Rathdrum Prairie

 Groundwater model refinement  Idaho-centric water budget  Recharge  Conservation

Treasure Valley

 Ground Water Model  Water Storage Feasibility  Weather Modification  Inter-basin Transfers  Irrigation Automation  Recharge

Climate Impacts Study

Purpose: To provide information to assist the IWRB in water planning and preparing for responding to changing runoff and supply patterns that may result from climate change.

Climate Impacts Study

Goal: To understand the impacts that climate change will have on water supply and to understand the impacts on the conveyance, storage and distribution system capacity within the region.

Climate Change Study Tasks

• • • • Downscale to aquifer basin Develop at least three potential climate change scenarios Describe and quantify impacts on water supply Analyze hydrologic mass balance impacts

Schedule

• • • Rathdrum Prairie – Completion by December 2010 Treasure Valley – Completion by December 2011 Future CAMP Basins – Dependent on future funding

For Additional Information:

http://www.idwr.idaho.gov/waterboard/ WaterPlanning/CAMP/CAMP.htm

Helen Harrington Manager, Water Planning Section Idaho Department of Water Resources 208-287-4848 [email protected]