ESPA Comprehensive Aquifer Management Plan Facilitation of a Framework Facilitation of a Framework for Presentation to the for Presentation to the 2007 Idaho Legislature 2007 Idaho Legislature Public Meeting Presentation by CDR Associates Public Meeting Presentation by CDR Associates Jonathan Bartsch and Diane Tate Jonathan Bartsch and Diane Tate October 11, 18 and 19, 2006 October 11, 18 and 19, 2006 .ASS OC I .ATE S
Goals of Presentation Goals of Presentation � Provide an overview of the ESPA � Provide an overview of the ESPA � Introduce ESPA Framework Process � Introduce ESPA Framework Process � Discuss roles � Discuss roles – – facilitation team, Board, facilitation team, Board, stakeholders stakeholders � Receive input from the public � Receive input from the public � Identify next steps � Identify next steps .ASS OC I .ATE S
Three Public Meetings Three Public Meetings � Wednesday, October 11 � Wednesday, October 11 th th – Pocatello, Highland High School – Pocatello, Highland High School � Wednesday, October 18 � th Wednesday, October 18 th – Twin Falls, KMVT Community Room Twin Falls, KMVT Community Room – � Thursday, October 19 � th Thursday, October 19 th – Idaho Falls, Civic Auditorium Idaho Falls, Civic Auditorium – .ASS OC I .ATE S
Agenda Agenda � Why this Process? � Why this Process? � Overview of the ESPA � Overview of the ESPA � Overview of the Framework process � Overview of the Framework process – Discussion of Roles Discussion of Roles – – Opportunities for Engagement – Opportunities for Engagement � Themes heard during interviews � Themes heard during interviews � Emerging elements of a Framework � Emerging elements of a Framework � Questions and Discussion � Questions and Discussion .ASS OC I .ATE S
Why this Process? Why this Process? � Senate Concurrent Resolution 136 � Senate Concurrent Resolution 136 – “ “These (disputing) parties are negotiating a These (disputing) parties are negotiating a – framework for settlement that makes it critical that framework for settlement that makes it critical that the State of Idaho Water Resource Board establish the State of Idaho Water Resource Board establish public policy with regard to the future management public policy with regard to the future management of the aquifer system of the aquifer system” ” � First phase � First phase – – develop a Framework and develop a Framework and present to 2007 Legislature present to 2007 Legislature � Second phase � Second phase – – Comprehensive Aquifer Comprehensive Aquifer Management Plan Management Plan .ASS OC I .ATE S
Overview of the ESPA Overview of the ESPA � Located within the Upper Snake River � Located within the Upper Snake River Basin Basin – The Upper Snake River Basin encompasses all The Upper Snake River Basin encompasses all – or part of 20 counties, and approximately 35% or part of 20 counties, and approximately 35% of Idaho’s land area (29,000 square miles) of Idaho’s land area (29,000 square miles) � The Eastern Snake River Plain Aquifer � The Eastern Snake River Plain Aquifer (ESPA) underlies approximately 10,000 (ESPA) underlies approximately 10,000 square miles, or 13% of the State of square miles, or 13% of the State of Idaho Idaho .ASS OC I .ATE S
Upper Snake River Basin Land Ownership D Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer Boundary Bureau of Land Ma nag eme fl! - U.S. ForestSeNice State of Idaho Prrvate - Bureau of Reclamation - De pa rtment of Energy - Tribal Land; - Idaho Dept. of Parks and Re creation - National Park SeNice - National Wildlife Refuge
Aquifer Characteristics Aquifer Characteristics � Layered basalt, thousands of feet thick in � Layered basalt, thousands of feet thick in some places some places � General direction of ground water flow: � General direction of ground water flow: northeast to southwest northeast to southwest � Hydraulically connected to the river � Hydraulically connected to the river � Two major aquifer discharge areas: � Two major aquifer discharge areas: – American Falls (about 2 MAF/yr) American Falls (about 2 MAF/yr) – – Thousand Springs (about 4 MAF/yr) – Thousand Springs (about 4 MAF/yr) .ASS OC I .ATE S
ESPA discharge to Snake River at American Falls ESPA discharge to Snake River at Thousand Springs 4---.ltFF•------
What Recharges the Aquifer? What Recharges the Aquifer? � Direct precipitation � Direct precipitation � Underflow from tributary basins � Underflow from tributary basins � Seepage from streams overlying the � Seepage from streams overlying the aquifer aquifer � Leakage from canals � Leakage from canals � Deep percolation of excess irrigation � Deep percolation of excess irrigation water water .ASS OC I .ATE S
Who Uses the Aquifer? Who Uses the Aquifer? � Municipal and domestic water wells � Municipal and domestic water wells � Agriculture � Agriculture – – irrigation with groundwater irrigation with groundwater � Agriculture � Agriculture – – irrigation with surface water irrigation with surface water that is fed by spring discharge into river that is fed by spring discharge into river � Springs � Springs – – aquaculture and other uses aquaculture and other uses � Commercial/Industrial wells � Commercial/Industrial wells � Tourism � Tourism – – “Thousand Springs” and other “Thousand Springs” and other attractions attractions � Wildlife/environmental benefits � Wildlife/environmental benefits .ASS OC I .ATE S
Why Manage the Aquifer? Why Manage the Aquifer? � Is there a problem? Does the aquifer � Is there a problem? Does the aquifer need management? need management? � Water availability varies, but demand � Water availability varies, but demand stays relatively constant stays relatively constant � Growth (population, industry) may put � Growth (population, industry) may put additional pressure on water supplies additional pressure on water supplies .ASS OC I .ATE S
Why Manage the Aquifer? Why Manage the Aquifer? � Groundwater levels declining � Groundwater levels declining � Shortage in available water for some � Shortage in available water for some users users – Example: Decline in spring flows in the – Example: Decline in spring flows in the Thousand Springs reach Thousand Springs reach � Need for establishment of public policy � Need for establishment of public policy for management of the aquifer to help for management of the aquifer to help resolve ongoing disputes resolve ongoing disputes .ASS OC I .ATE S
ANNUAL SPRING DISCHARGE TO SNAKE RIVER BETWEEN MILNER AND KING HILL 1902-2005 5 4 MILLION ACFT 3 2 1 0 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 1902 1907 1912 1917 1922 1927 1932 1937 1942 1947 1952 1957 1962 1967 1972 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002
Overview of the Framework Overview of the Framework Process Process � Project Launch in August � Project Launch in August � Initial interviews with stakeholders in � Initial interviews with stakeholders in September September � Public meetings in October � Public meetings in October � October/November: Facilitation team drafts � October/November: Facilitation team drafts Framework with stakeholder input Framework with stakeholder input � Public meetings in December to get reactions � Public meetings in December to get reactions and comments and comments � Presentation to Legislature in January � Presentation to Legislature in January .ASS OC I .ATE S
Roles Roles � Idaho Water Resource Board � Idaho Water Resource Board � Facilitation Team � Facilitation Team � Department of Water Resources � Department of Water Resources � STAKEHOLDERS � STAKEHOLDERS .ASS OC I .ATE S
Link to Decision Making Link to Decision Making � Framework decisions � Framework decisions – Identify goals and alternatives – Identify goals and alternatives – Determine level of management Determine level of management – – minimal, minimal, – modest, and aggressive alternatives modest, and aggressive alternatives – Funding strategies and fee structure – Funding strategies and fee structure – Interim implementation measures Interim implementation measures – � Decision makers � Decision makers – – the Board the Board .ASS OC I .ATE S
Outreach to Stakeholders Outreach to Stakeholders � Contacted over 90 individuals and groups � Contacted over 90 individuals and groups – Water users: spring, surface, groundwater – Water users: spring, surface, groundwater – Groundwater districts, canal companies, Groundwater districts, canal companies, – irrigation districts irrigation districts – State and federal agencies State and federal agencies – – Local government/municipalities – Local government/municipalities – Water Water- -dependent industry & local business dependent industry & local business – – Environment and wildlife – Environment and wildlife – Tribes Tribes – – More that we missed? – More that we missed? .ASS OC I .ATE S
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