CONJUNCTIVE MANAGEMENT IN THE WOOD RIVER VALLEY We Need Public Private Partnerships Throughout Idaho David R. Tuthill, Jr., Ph.D., P.E. June 18, 2012
Outline Do we have a water shortage in Idaho? Where are storage opportunities? What entities will develop water storage projects in the future? How does this apply to conjunctive management in the Wood River Valley?
Do we have a water shortage in Idaho? Yes, sometimes. But could we do a better job of storing and managing our water?
Gage 1. Near Porthill, ID 11,153,000 AF 2. Albeni Falls Dam 17,633,000 AF 3. Near Post Falls, ID 4,475,000 AF 4. Near Potlach, ID 190,000 AF 5. Lower Granite Dam 34,850,725 AF 6. Near Anatone, WA 25,281,000 AF 7. Near Rome, OR 686,000 AF 8. ID-UT State Line 770,000 AF Total = over 95MAF!
Where are Aquifer Storage Opportunities? Map from IDEQ Website
Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer Estimated storage ~ 1 billion acre-feet Estimated depth ~ 4000 feet Slide from Dr. Gary Johnson U of I
Water Supplies are not always sufficient so junior ground water rights are in danger of being curtailed and new rights must be mitigated Snake River at Milner
ANNUAL RUNOFF SNAKE RIVER AT MILNER 1910-2009 8000 7000 Data supplied by Idaho Department of Water Resources 6000 5000 1000 ACFT But… we haven’t done a good 4000 job of capturing and recharging 3000 these available flows… 2000 1000 0 1910 1915 1920 1925 1930 1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
ESPA - Cumulative Change in Aquifer Storage 20,000,000 18,000,000 16,000,000 14,000,000 Cumulative Storage Change (AF) 12,000,000 10,000,000 Slide Credit: Mike McVay, IDWR 8,000,000 6,000,000 1912 – 1952 Change +17,000,000 AF 1952 – 1980 Change -5,700,000 AF 4,000,000 1980 – 2008 Change -6,300,000 AF 2,000,000 0 1912 1914 1916 1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 Kjelstrom Cumultive Vol Non-Synoptic Cumulative Vol Synoptic Vol Change
So… Who’s to Fix this problem?
Why haven’t IDWR and the IWRB fixed this? They have tried!
Time to think…
Primary Drivers of Water Projects in Idaho ? State Government Role Federal Government Private Sector Role Role 1865 1900 1965 2011
Role of Recharge State Privately Sponsored Sponsored Managed Managed Recharge Recharge Incidental Recharge-- No Credit 1865 1900 1965 2011
What entities will develop storage and recharge in the future? Public and Private Partnerships Irrigation Private Districts and Development Canal Companies Company • Expertise Local, State and • Expertise • Facilities Federal • Funding • Storage Water • Techniques Government • Regulatory • Administration preferences • Expertise • Initiative • Regulations • Oversight • Funding • Enforcement
Application to the Wood River Valley SRBA nearing completion – gw rights being decreed Conjunctive administration is coming Senior non-domestic ground water right is 1912 1887 surface water rights are curtailed every year Aquifer in most areas is a fully connected alluvium Minimum stream flow rights are to be protected IDWR will be sending a letter – either mitigate or curtail How does a ground water user respond?
Wood River Mitigation Solutions, LLC Private Idaho company Developing a portfolio of options Seeking to use unappropriated water via public and private partnerships Time is short and the need is great Goal: Mutually beneficial solutions
Thank You
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