Project could ease groundwater demand
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is proposing a $4 million project that would replace groundwater with surface water for the A & B Irrigation District.
Funded by a grant from the Natural Resources Conservation Service Agricultural Water Enhancement Program, the cost-share project would be managed by the irrigation district.
The Bureau said the project would reduce reliance on aquifer groundwater, while improving irrigation efficiency.
It would make surface water available to about 1,495 acres currently irrigated with groundwater. It would also include 1,377 acres that were converted from groundwater in the early 1990’s.
Plans call for constructing a pump station on the north bank of the Snake River about 7 miles west of Burley and a 12-mile pipeline to deliver water north to the irrigation district lands.
The Bureau of Reclamation will accept written comments on an environmental assessment until August 12, 2013. Submit comments to Julia Pierko, Bureau of Reclamation, Snake River Area Office, 230 Collins Road, Boise, Idaho 83702. Written comments will also be accepted by email at: jpierko@usbr.gov.
