According to water experts, groundwater pumping across the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer in Idaho must be reduced by an average of 12.5 percent in 2016. Thousands of acres of farmland could possibly be idled due to these water reductions.
The Recharge Development Corporation (RDC), a private organization bringing together many entities, has a proposed solution to solve the water crisis: developing a privately managed system to replenish and store water in the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer.
The RDC is organizing a symposium for all interested individuals and entities to discuss the alternative method to meet water needs. The meeting will be held Monday, Feb. 22 from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Shilo Inn in Idaho Falls, Idaho. As many as 400 people are expected to attend in person, and others can participate via webinar.
The symposium will bring together farmers, engineers, legislators, civic leaders, water attorneys and experts in water management and distribution to discuss a proposed method of privately building a system to recharge groundwater and cooperatively manage surface and groundwater resources. The symposium is especially relevant due to last year’s settlement agreement between the Surface Water Coalition and the Idaho Ground Water Appropriators that represents groundwater districts in southern and eastern Idaho.
“Our proposed, privately managed aquifer recharge project is critically needed to optimize groundwater and surface water supplies,” said Chris Pratt, RDC president and an eastern Idaho farmer. “All interested parties, especially farmers, are invited to join with us at the symposium to learn about how privately managed aquifer recharge can help meet water needs in the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer area now and in the future. Many communities across the country have successfully used similar methods to replenish aquifers and store water. Working together, we can do the same.”
Historically, private individuals and groups have stepped up to meet the irrigation needs of Idaho agriculture by building reservoirs. In today’s environment, the RDC suggests that individuals and organizations could now work together to build infrastructure and use aquifers to store water during times of surplus. Under consideration is the fact that, according to the Idaho Department of Water Resources, an annual median of 964,097 acre-feet of natural flow passed Milner Dam near Burley on the Snake River from 1980 to 2012. The RDC believes that this is much more water than would be required to compensate for the groundwater pumping cutbacks in the settlement agreement.
At the symposium, Idaho Falls mayor Rebecca Casper will deliver the keynote address, titled, “What Water Means to Eastern Idaho Cities.” Click here to see a full list of speakers.
About the symposium
- Date: Monday, February 22, 2016
- Time: 7:30 a.m. registration check-in. Presentations from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Cost: $40 early bird registration prior to Feb. 16; $60 thereafter. Includes buffet luncheon
- Where: Shilo Inn, 780 Lindsay Blvd., Idaho Falls, Idaho
- Webinar option available. Seating is limited.
- Register online at rechargedevelopment.com or call (208) 378-1513.