Aquifer measurement survey to begin this month

The U.S. Geological Survey plans to measure groundwater levels in more than 1,300 private and public wells across the eastern Snake Plain Aquifer this spring.

The measurements will be conducted between March 19 and April 13. USGS and the Idaho Department of Water Resources have conducted the mass measurements every five years.

The aquifer is the region’s primary source of drinking water and one million acres of irrigated farmland.

The data collected from the measurements will help water managers understand the status of the aquifer as eastern Idaho enters the irrigation season. The Idaho Department of Water Resources will use the data to improve their computer models of the aquifer.

“The mass measurement is like taking a snapshot of the current state of the aquifer,” said IDWR Hydrology Section Manager Sean Vincent. “We would greatly appreciate well owners’ cooperation in the study by granting our technicians access to their wells. Privately-owned wells are a valuable source of information. The more wells from which we can gather information, the better our assessment of the current state of the aquifer will be.”

The measurement technicians will carry official government identification. They will measure the water level using a steel tape or an electronic water level meter and report the results to the well owner.