Agreement reached on aquifer recharge plan
Sixteen eastern Idaho cities have signed an agreement committing to contribute an average of 7,650 acre-feet of water per year to the East Snake Plain Aquifer (ESPA).
The contribution is mitigation to do their part to restore the aquifer to sustainable levels.
The agreement with the cities was mediated by House Speaker Scott Bedke. All 16 cities signed the agreement in December. The Idaho Water Resource Board reviewed it Friday. That agreement not only outlines the water donation, but also a plan to compensate the board for managing its recharge water.
Participating cities include Bliss, Burley, Carey, Declo, Gooding, Hazelton, Heyburn, Idaho Falls, Jerome, Paul, Pocatello, Richfield, Rupert, Shoshone and Wendell.
The city of Pocatello will administer the city recharge program through its water right in Palisades Reservoir. Each city will report the amount of water pumped from the ESPA to the board annually, according to Candice McHugh, an attorney representing the cities.
The agreement is fair, and it provides room for all of the cities in the ESPA region to grow, McHugh said.
“Contributing 7,650 acre-feet per year is “very doable,” said McHugh. “The cities encourage the board to use the cities’ recharge water where it will be most beneficial. The agreement also gives the cities safe harbor from any future legal water delivery calls. Other cities are welcome to join the group as time goes on,” said McHugh.
Water Resource Board Chairman Roger Chase encouraged the cities to conserve water and create water-metering programs, if they don’t already have them. Chase added, “We are really encouraged that the cities have come up with this plan. We are pleased to work with them on ESPA recharge.”
