David R. Tuthill, Jr., Ph.D., P.E. June 18, 2012 Outline Do we - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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

Snake River at Milner

Water Supplies are not always sufficient so junior ground water rights are in danger of being curtailed and new rights must be mitigated

1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000

1910 1915 1920 1925 1930 1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

1000 ACFT

ANNUAL RUNOFF SNAKE RIVER AT MILNER

1910-2009

Data supplied by Idaho Department of Water Resources

But… we haven’t done a good job of capturing and recharging these available flows…

2,000,000 4,000,000 6,000,000 8,000,000 10,000,000 12,000,000 14,000,000 16,000,000 18,000,000 20,000,000 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 Cumulative Storage Change (AF)

ESPA - Cumulative Change in Aquifer Storage

Kjelstrom Cumultive Vol Non-Synoptic Cumulative Vol Synoptic Vol Change

Slide Credit: Mike McVay, IDWR

1912 – 1952 Change +17,000,000 AF 1952 – 1980 Change -5,700,000 AF 1980 – 2008 Change -6,300,000 AF

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

1865 1900 1965 2011

?

Private Sector Role State Government Role Federal Government Role

Role of Recharge

1865 1900 1965 2011

Incidental Recharge-- No Credit State Sponsored Managed Recharge Privately Sponsored Managed Recharge

What entities will develop storage and recharge in the future?

Irrigation Districts and Canal Companies Local, State and Federal Government Private Development Company

Public and Private Partnerships

• Expertise
• Funding
• Techniques
• Administration
• Initiative
• Expertise
• Facilities
• Storage Water
• Regulatory

preferences

• Expertise
• 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